Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
One of the 16 rebel Democrat MPs, who defied a party resolution by voting for Pheu Thai party’s prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin, has claimed that they did so because they wanted to find a “way out” for the country. Chaichana Detdecho, a constituency MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat province, said that the group had
Despite being the largest single party in Thailand’s House of Representatives, the Move Forward party has announced that it will work in opposition, after parliament overwhelmingly endorsed the Pheu Thai party’s prime ministerial candidate, Srettha Thavisin, yesterday (Tuesday). Srettha received 482 votes of approval, against 165 of disapproval and 81 abstentions. Move Forward’s secretary-general, Chaithawat
Former Democrat party leader Chuan Leekpai described as “unbelievable” on Tuesday that 16 Democrat MPs voted in favour of a Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate, despite the long rivalry between the parties. The MPs in question did not follow the party’s resolution, to abstain in the vote, Chuan said, adding that he had obtained the
Former real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin has been elected as the 30th prime minister of Thailand on Tuesday, after having received overwhelming support from members of parliament and senators in a joint sitting. The final vote tally was 482 in favour, 165 against and 81 abstentions from the combined 705 MPs and senators participating. Of the
Move Forward MP Arnuparp Likhitamnuaychai collapsed in parliament during the vote for the new prime minister today (Tuesday), prompting the deputy parliament president, Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, to suspend the selection process temporarily. The Samut Songkhram MP’s colleagues, among them Tosaporn Serirak, rushed to his aid, as a medical team was immediately sent to administer CPR. The
Many Thai netizens were glued to coverage of the return to Thailand and surrender of now former fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who had been in self-imposed exile for the best part of 17 years. Thaksin, being well aware of the local and international attention focused on his return on Tuesday, posted images of himself on
Former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban and five co-defendants have been found not guilty of corruption, in the construction of 396 police stations and apartments around the country, by the appeals panel of the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders. The ruling today (Tuesday) upheld that of the Supreme Court given on September
287 MPs and senators have seconded a motion by Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew, proposing the nomination of former real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin as Thailand’s next prime minister. Cholnan’s motion came after Move Forward MPs tried to delay the prime minister’s selection process today (Tuesday), when party-list MP Rangsiman Rome asked parliament to review
Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted photos taken inside Don Muang airport VIP suite on Tuesday, showing her father, Thaksin, together with all of his children, grandchildren and in-laws. On her Facebook page, Paetongtarn, his youngest daughter, wrote “Welcome back to Thailand daddy” She wrote her has arrived in Thailand safely and has already entered the legal process,
Pheu Thai party’s prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin said today (Monday) that he has had to renege on promises he made during the election campaign, namely that his party would not partner with either Palang Pracharath or United Thai Nation. He said that he made the pledge on the expectation that the Pheu Thai party
A political activist lodged a complaint with the national anti-graft body today (Monday), against Deputy House speaker Padipat Suntiphada’s use of parliamentary funds to host a buffet for maids working at the parliament complex. In his complaint to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, Srisuwan Janya seeks an investigation into the use of the funds, alleging that
Pheu Thai party leader Cholnan Srikaew announced today (Monday) a coalition of 11 parties, to form a new government for Thailand, commanding a total of 314 seats in the House of Representatives. Pheu Thai is taking eight ministerial and nine deputy ministerial portfolios, including Prime Minister. In a joint statement by the 11 parties, the
