Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Former Palang Pracharath MP Sira Jenjaka was sentenced to 16 months in prison without suspension today (Monday), after Don Mueang District Court found him guilty on five counts of defamation and trespassing charges, filed against him by Mongkutwattana Hospital and its director, Maj-Gen Rienthong Nanna. According to the charge sheet, on May 7th last year,
Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan is generally considered a weak link in Prayut Chan-o-cha’s administration, tainted by the scandal over a multimillion-baht wristwatch collection, despite his repeated denials of corruption. But in a twist of fate, he finally finds himself in the top post of prime minister, thanks to a legal dispute over the
Acting Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan today (Friday) declined to comment on speculation that a Cabinet reshuffle is in the cards under his watch. “There is nothing to it,” said Prawit in his first encounter with journalists at the Government House after assuming the role of caretaker prime minister following the Constitutional Court’s order to suspend
The draft Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, with its 34 sections, was finally passed on Wednesday (August 24) and will become effective in 4 months, following several years of delay. Originally rejected by the post-coup National Legislative Assembly, the bill was again submitted to the House of Representatives in 2021 and
The decision by the Constitutional Court to suspend Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha from active duty might have fallen short of the expectations of the opposition bloc and anti-government demonstrators, but should help lower the political temperature — at least for the time being, according to political analysts. Businessmen and industrialists, meanwhile, expressed confidence that the
All eyes are on the Constitutional Court today when it’s expected to start deliberating a petition by the opposition bloc that would determine Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s political future. The midnight “deadline” set by anti-Prayut demonstrators for the prime minister to quit passed without any signs that he would relent. They vowed more street demonstrations
After a unanimous vote to accept a petition from the opposition bloc in Parliament, seeking a Constitutional Court ruling on Prayut’s eight-year term in office and on a 5-4 majority vote, Prayut Chan-o-cha has been instructed to suspend his duties as the prime minister from today (Wednesday) until the court finally decides his fate. It
Various groups have vowed to stage renewed protest rallies at the Democracy Monument, after most of them dispersed late last night (Tuesday), with some choosing to spend the night in front of the police barricades on Ratchadamnoen Nok Road. The groups announced an end to the protest at about 9.45pm yesterday and then marched and
After a five-day debate, the 3.185 trillion-baht budget bill has passed its final reading in the lower house, with 258 MPs voting in favour and 180 against. Next, the bill will go to the senate for approval within 20 days. The process of enacting the bill, which must be implemented in the next fiscal year,
Fifteen labour groups and their alliances rallied today (Tuesday), at the Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon, to demand wage rises and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The protesters intended to submit their three-point demand to Government House officials, but they were prevented from doing so by police and barricades, there to prevent
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) will be asked to investigate the conduct of the Election Commission (EC) over its rejection of Srisuwan Janya’s petition, seeking a ruling from the Constitutional Court over the term in office of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Political activist Srisuwan Janya said today (Tuesday) that he does not understand why the
Thai police are using cargo containers, razor wire and steel barricades to block traffic at Chamaimaruchet and Makkhawan Rangsan bridges today (Tuesday) to prevent protesters from getting close to Government House. The protesters, led by Jatuporn Prompan and Nittitorn Lumlua, are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, contending that his eight-year term in
