It’s a given that nobody enjoys answering tricky questions, but unfortunately for some professions – like being prime minister, it comes with the territory.

Not, however, for Thailand’s Prayuth Chan-ocha, who adopted a bizarre and novel approach to avoiding difficult questions in a move which left reporters scratching their heads.

The PM evaded all questions at a press conference by bringing out a life-sized cardboard cutout of himself – and then told journalists to ‘ask this guy’ if they had ‘any questions on politics or conflict.’

He then turned on his heel and walked off, leaving the mock-up behind to bemused looks and awkward laughter from the assembled media.

Prayuth had briefly spoken to the media earlier on after attending an event promoting the country’s upcoming Children’s Day – but used his cardboard copy before anyone could ask him about important issues.

It isn’t the first time Prayuth – a general who seized power in a bloodless coup in 2014 – has dumbfounded the media with his antics.

In the past he has fondled the ear of a sound recordist for several minutes during an impromptu news conference, flung a banana peel at cameramen, and threatened, with gruff humor, to execute any journalist who criticized his government.