Longer-form commentary and opinion pieces across all geographic sections
With a general election just around the corner, political parties are now competing to woo voters via the popular welfare card scheme. Academics, however, warn that this scheme has already failed to tackle poverty or improve Thais’ overall living standard, and is likely to remain ineffective unless reformed. “If the welfare card is so good,
Former red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan has shocked political observers by launching stinging criticisms of his former party Pheu Thai and its patriarch, Thaksin Shinawatra. Jatuporn demanded that the core opposition party issue a public declaration that it would not form an alliance with the ruling Palang Pracharath Party after the general election later this year.
The Pheu Thai Party has decided to spar with Jatuporn Prompan only, but did it really have the choice of going toe to toe with him in full scale? The man is a battle-hardened political activist who faced real bullets, campaigned as real fires were raging around him and went to prison five times, so
The Cabinet recently approved a framework for government spending in fiscal year 2024 with planned expenditure of 3.35 trillion baht, up 5.18 percent from the current fiscal year. The spending is equal to 17.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). The share of current spending, such as on salaries of state officials, represents 74.89 percent of the total
Thailand’s lenient stance as well as the close ties between its armed forces and the Myanmar military — also known as Tatmadaw — would undermine the efforts of ASEAN and the international community to ease the ongoing crisis in that country, according to many independent observers. Thousands of people have died in the neighbouring country and
A system that allows big corporations to buy carbon offsets in rain forests to cancel out their harmful emissions is essentially “worthless,” an analysis by several media organisations showed Wednesday. Buying carbon credits by financing projects to protect rainforests has become a popular way for companies to claim they are carbon neutral, even though their
Prawit Wongsuwan is seeking to persuade skeptical voters that his ruling Palang Pracharath Party has no connection with Prayut Chan-o-cha’s Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, say political analysts. Palang Pracharath is trying to counter a perception that the parties are allies and that voting for either one will help Prayut return as prime minister, they
Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) will expand by around 3-4 percent this year, only slightly higher than last year’s 3.2 percent, the National Economic and Social Development Council, a state think-tank, has forecast. But many economists believe the GDP growth is below the country’s potential. Impact of stronger baht The baht has strengthened recently due to investors
The main focus of Thai politics this year will be the general election, bargaining to form a new government, and possible constitutional amendment. Analysts expect the already intense political conflict to deepen following the election, tentatively scheduled for May. Rival alliances will fight to form a new coalition government, but many experts predict General Prayut
Thai education is about to enter a new phase as Parliament prepares to vote on the National Education Bill. Yet experts do not expect the bill and its reforms to bring big improvements for Thailand’s much-criticized education system. “Once the National Education Bill becomes law, Thailand’s education sector will shift to a new era,” said
Thailand’s new national rail terminus has run into trouble even before its official unveiling. Bang Sue Grand Station is setting social media alight with news that signboards for its new royally granted name will cost a whopping 33 million baht to install. Enraged Thai netizens have posted pictures showing how such a large budget could
Thailand’s stock market has been vibrant since the Constitutional Court gave the green light to new electoral bills that are likely to benefit bigger parties. Stock analysts viewed the passing of the election law as paving the way for the next general election and the formation of a stable government. A government made up of
