Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Thailand’s House of Representatives passed the first reading of the Move Forward party’s groundbreaking Marriage Equality Bill today (Wednesday), by 212 votes to 180 votes, with 12 abstentions and 4 no votes. The Bill, which, if it becomes law, will allow same-sex marriage. A parliamentary committee has been set up to scrutinise the Bill over the
Thailand’s opposition submitted a motion to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai today (Wednesday), to censure Prime Minister Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and ten of his ministers, with the debate tentatively scheduled for July 18th to 22nd. The motion was seconded by 182 opposition MPs. In the motion, the opposition accuses the prime minister of the mismanagement
Some members of the media, police and protesters suffered minor injuries in clashes between police and hard core anti-government protesters at Bangkok’s Din Daeng intersection last night (Tuesday), following resumption of clashes over the past weekend after several months of hiatus. The protesters, mostly motorcycle-riding youths, have clashed with police at the intersection since last
Harnessing digital technology to solve problems is one of the things that sets Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s administration apart from his predecessors. As a graduate of the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the newly elected governor apparently trusts that tech solutions will make a big difference. Aside from promoting the Traffy Fondue complaints-receiving application,
United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), or “Red Shirt” leader Jatuporn Prompan led a small group of Thai people who staged a rally in front of the Ministry of Defence yesterday (Monday), to protest the visit to Thailand by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and his country’s Indo-Pacific strategy. Austin paid a courtesy call
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has expressed concern over the resurgence of protests, by anti-government elements, at Din Daeng intersection since last Saturday and has assigned a deputy governor to work out how the city’s administration can help in case people are injured during the occasionally violent protests. The protests at Din Daeng intersection, which have
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has warned anti-government protesters, especially the youths among them, not to break the law or face arrest and prosecution. Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said today (Sunday), that the prime minister issued the warning after a violent protest at Din Daeng intersection last night by a small group of young protesters. He
Poramase Ngampiches of the “We Love Pattaya group” has won the Pattaya mayoral election, according to the unofficial results from fresh elections held yesterday (Sunday) at two polling stations, following a delay in issuing results from the May 22nd election, the first such in a decade, due to a mismatch between the number of ballots cast
The opposition parties are aiming to censure Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and nine of his ministers, claiming that they have solid evidence to unseat some of them with allegations of corruption, opposition chief whip and Pheu Thai MP Suthin Klangsaeng said today (Thursday). The censure motion is scheduled to be submitted to House Speaker Chuan
Deputy Education Minister Kanokwan Vilawan has been found to be at fault, by Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), for land encroachment in Khao Yai National Park and has been instructed to report to public prosecutors to acknowledge the charges against her or face arrest. Nine other people, including the minister’s father, were also to be
The Lower House overwhelmingly passed the first reading of the Bhumjaithai party’s Cannabis and Hemp Bill yesterday (Wednesday), which will legalise the controlled use, production, sale, import and export of cannabis, hemp and their extracts. 373 MPs voted in support of the bill, with 7 against. 23 MPs abstained. The vote comes as Thailand’s decriminalisation
Former commerce minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan announced the establishment of his own party today (Wednesday), with the intention to contest the next general election. Named “Okart Thai” (Thai Opportunity), Mingkwan explained that he chose the name because of his belief that all Thai people should have opportunities. Having made a shocking move in announcing his resignation as
