Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
After intense behind-the-scenes lobbying and horse-trading to secure the votes of MPs from the smaller parties, known as the Group of 16, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and 10 other ministers survived the 4-day Opposition censure vote this morning (Saturday). The prime minister thanked the MPs for their support, saying that the result will serve as
Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat accused the government, during the final day of the censure debate today (Friday), of complete failure in three strategic areas intended to drive Thailand to a prosperous future. In its three years in the office, he said, the government has left many Thais hopeless and without a dream. The
Move Forward MP Bencha Saengchan called on the government today (Friday) to release all political detainees and prisoners held captive since 2014, claiming that they were persecuted by the state simply because of their different political opinions. She claimed, during the fourth day of the censure debate today, that, under the military junta that came
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told the Opposition today that the Ministry of Defence has already taken legal action against the local suppliers of the bogus bomb detectors, known as GT-200, seeking compensation estimated at about 747 million baht. He was responding to a question raised, during the third day of the censure debate, by
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha engaged in an animated verbal exchange, during the censure debate this morning (Thursday), with Move Forward MP Amarat Chokepamitkul, accusing the party of involvement in anti-Monarchy activities which, he said, he finds unacceptable. Responding to this accusation, which was not specific, Amarat said that the prime minister should not have made
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has admitted to being the individual behind the May 2014 coup in Thailand, as he raised his hand, quite proudly, when referred to by his Deputy Prawit Wongsuwan, during the second day of censure debate yesterday (Wednesday). Prawit, was defending himself against the Opposition’s claims of his role in the coup
Pheu Thai MP Chanok Chanthathong took a swipe at Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn during the second day of the censure debate today (Wednesday), accusing him of being unfaithful to his wife. Chanok said that Chaiwut had been with his wife for a long time, until he was appointed a minister. Then, his
The Thai Transport Ministry’s mega project to build a high-speed, dual-track railroad system and motorways at a total cost of 5.7 trillion baht was targeted by the Opposition during the 4-day censure debate beginning yesterday (Tuesday). Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob later defended the project today, insisting that it will boost the economy rather than wasting
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha took a swipe at exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, without naming names, in his response to attacks on him by Opposition and Pheu Thai party leader Chonlanan Srikaew at the start of the censure debate today (Tuesday). Chonlanan accused the prime minister of lacking in leadership, incompetence, abuse of power,
Opposition chief whip Sutin Klungsang has ridiculed today (Tuesday) the pro-government poster for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the ten ministers targeted for censure debate, the last one for this administration which already began this morning. Borrowing the title of the most recent James Bond film “No Time to Die”, the poster declares that the
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha chaired a meeting with leaders of the coalition parties this afternoon (Monday) to confirm their votes at the end of the censure debate, the last one against the current Prayut Chan-o-cha administration. The four-day debate begins on Tuesday. The vote is scheduled for Saturday. After reportedly asking each party leader
Two of Thailand’s anti-establishment protest leaders, Parit Chiwarak, aka “Penguin”, and Jutatip Sirikhan, aka “Ua”, were sentenced to two-months in jail, suspended for 2 years, and fined 10,000 baht each today (Tuesday) by the Pathumwan Municipal Court, after they were found guilty of violating the state of emergency law two years ago. Jutatip was also
