Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra is scheduled to return to Thailand on August 10, after 17 years of self-imposed exile, his youngest daughter Paetongtarn announced on Wednesday in a Facebook posting. Her announcement was made on her father’s 74th birthday. Thaksin has postponed his return 19 times so far. He had said that he would
Speaking today (Wednesday), House Speaker Wan Mohamad Noor Matha has defended his order to cancel the parliamentary sitting tomorrow, to select the prime minister, insisting that he has to wait for a ruling from the Constitutional Court on whether it will consider the petition from the ombudsman. The ombudsman asked the Constitutional Court to consider
Palang Pracharath boss Prawit Wongsuwan denied widespread reports today (Tuesday) that he intends to quit politics, saying “I have never said that I will.” When asked to comment on a report that he would not take a ministerial position if his party decides to join the new government, he said he would have to wait
The Move Forward party has suspended a member of Pita Limjaroenrat’s security detail, after online investigators revealed that he, Srisuriyane Srikamonpakdi, has been convicted of kidnapping and blackmail and was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2011. Secretary general Chaithawat Tulathon said another bodyguard has already been assigned to Pita, while the party conducts
The Move Forward party will not join any government with United Thai Nation or Palang Pracharath for many reasons, one of which is because their leaders led the last coup. The party reached the decision during a virtual meeting with their MPs to discuss the current political situation and its position on joining a government.
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said today (Monday) that his legal team will have to listen to the opinions of the House and Senate whips about whether the joint sitting of parliament, to select the prime minister, scheduled for this Thursday, will be postponed. The whips are scheduled to meet on Wednesday, he said,
Motorists are being advised to avoid the Victory Monument, Ratchadamnoen Nok and Sap roads in Bangkok today (Monday), as three groups continue their protest rallies. According to the Metropolitan Police Bureau, members of the rehabilitation and development fund for farmers continue to protest in front of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives. Their presence
Outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wishes the country to remain peaceful while those concerned are forming the new government. Everything is going to be better, the country’s economy is recovering and more tourists are coming to Thailand, deputy government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek quoted Prayut as saying. Prayut said he will do his duty and take
Several cafés in Thailand have stopped selling mint-chocolate drinks, after the Pheu Thai party met with Bhumjaithai, the United Thai Nation, Chart Pattana Kla and Chartthaipattana parties over the past weekend, to woo them into supporting its prime ministerial candidate and forming a government. Mint-chocolate drinks became widely popular after one of Pheu Thai’s prime
Democrat party has not been invited for talks with Pheu Thai on the formation of the next government because the Democrats do not currently have a party leader or secretary-general, Pheu Thai deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai said today (Sunday). In responding to a question raised by reporters about why the Democrats were not invited, Phumtham
Core party members of United Thai Nation, led by party leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, met with key members of Pheu Thai on Saturday afternoon to discuss solutions to the political stalemate. Pirapan briefly told the media before the meeting that the party’s political stand remains unchanged, which is it rejects the Move Forward party as well
The Group of Seven nations, the European Union and three other countries are urging China to expel oil tankers from its waters that appear to be taking fuel to North Korea in defiance of UN sanctions, according to a letter seen by AFP on Friday. “We have concerns regarding the continuing presence of multiple oil
