Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Two monarchy reform activists, being held on remand and who have been on a hunger strike since June 2nd, were granted conditional release on bail by the Bangkok South Criminal Court today (Thursday) and are set to be released tonight, according to a Thai Lawyers for Human Rights’ (TLHR). The two members of the Thalu
The Thai Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office Holders sentenced Palang Pracharath MP for Bangkok Thanikan Pornpongsaroj to one year in prison today (Wednesday), suspended for two years, and fined her 200,000 baht after finding her guilty of allowing another MP to use her ID card to vote in parliament. Thanikan was ordered to
A veteran politician and advisor to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was today appointed leader of Ruam Thai Sang Chart, a newly-formed political party which is seen as a political vehicle for the Thai leader to fight in the next general elections. Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, a former justice minister, said his party hopes to dominate the southern
The House Budget Scrutiny Committee agreed by 45:22 votes today (Wednesday) to restore 369 million of the 738 million baht requested by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) for fiscal year 2023 to commence the process of purchasing two F-35A combat jets from the United States, after the total procurement budget of 7.4 billion baht,
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s term in office has been challenged by a group of 99 academics, activists and people from various professions, all of whom signed a petition letter demanding his resignation by August 23rd. The petitioners claim that the prime minister’s eight-year term in the office will come to an end on August 23rd,
A group of pro-democracy activists rallied in front of the Thai Supreme Court in Bangkok this morning (Monday), to demand the release of two anti-establishment activists who have been on hunger strike since June 2nd in protest against their pre-trial detention. The demonstrators, representing civic groups and led by national artist Suchart Sawasdsri, submitted a
Thailand’s main opposition party Pheu Thai is planning to ask the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate the conduct of senators and MPs who vote in favour of amending the electoral law, to return to the basis of 500, instead of 100, for the calculation of party-list seat allocation, Pheu Thai MP Somkid Chueakong said
Former Palang Pracharath MP for Bangkok Sira Jenjaka was sentenced to eight months in prison and fined 40,000 baht today (Wednesday) by the Bangkok South Criminal Court, after he was found guilty of defaming Thai Liberal party leader Sereepisuth Temeeyaves. The court suspended the jail term for two years. Sira, a strong supporter for Prime
A high-level Thai delegation was in Saudi Arabia on July 25th and 26th to hold discussions between counterparts to form a framework of cooperation in investment and other areas, according to Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Anucha Burapachaisri. Led by Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow and Thai trade representative chairman M.L. Chayotid
The cabinet agreed yesterday (Tuesday) to extend the State of Emergency, from August 1st to September 30th, citing the need to control the spread of COVID-19, especially the new Omicron sub-variants which are spreading rapidly. The current Emergency Decree is due to expire on July 31st and this new extension will be the 19th. The
Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda was hit by the highest no-confidence vote among the 11 Cabinet members targeted by the opposition in last week’s censure debate. Of the 212 votes against him, six came from MPs of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party. Anupong, 72, likely paid the price for politicians’ frustration at his “lack of cooperation”
A senior member of the opposition Thai Liberal party will ask the Election Commission (EC) to investigate alleged bribery implicating some MPs in smaller parties ahead of the censure debate vote in the Lower House last weekend, while political activist Srisuwan Janya threatens to take the case to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) tomorrow (Tuesday)
