Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
The Appeals Court has denied bail to former red-shirt guard chief Sombat Thongyoi, on the grounds that his actions in mocking His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn amounted to an insult to the monarchy and that, if he were freed on bail, he may escape or commit other offences. Sombat was sentenced to six years in prison
Two more Democrat Party members have issued their resignations, one from the party’s executive committee, and the other from the party, amid the sex abuse scandal in which former party deputy leader Prinn Panitchpakdi is allegedly implicated. Former Democrat MP for Bangkok Onanong Kanjanachusak has resigned as an executive committee member of the party, effective yesterday
A former guard for Thailand’s anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), better known as the “Red Shirts”, Sombat Thongyoi, has been sentenced to six years in prison without suspension for lèse majesté and computer crimes, for posting one of the King’s remarks in late 2020 and other comments about His Majesty on Facebook.
Key gubernatorial candidates examined express boat services in the capital today (Thursday) and met with residents, as they proposed policies to improve the livelihoods of people living along the canals, ahead of the highly anticipated election on May 22nd, the first in nine years. Move Forward Party candidate Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn saw the boat services along
Thai Olympic boxing gold medallist Somrak Khamsing is among 22 election candidates selected to run in north-eastern provinces, as announced today (Wednesday) by the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP). Party secretary-general Santi Promphat said that Somrak, who was a Thai boxing champion before joining Thailand’s Olympic boxing team, will represent the party in the next election
Three top candidates for Bangkok Governor continued their campaigns in temples and at fresh markets today (Wednesday), ahead of the gubernatorial elections on May 22nd. Independent candidate, Chadchart Sittipunt, along with Pavena Hongsakul, campaigned in Sai Mai and Bang Khen districts. Chadchart began his day by paying respects to the abbot of Koh Suwannaram Temple
Opposition parties in Thailand have decided to launch another censure debate against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and other ministers individually, tentatively in June, after the passage of two organic laws regarding elections, said opposition and Pheu Thai party leader Chonlanan Srikaew today (Tuesday). He said that the censure debate will focus on six issues. According
The Democrat party has been dealt more setbacks as an executive committee member, Mallika Boonmeetrakool Mahasook, quit the committee today (Monday), following in the footsteps of Dr. Kanok Wongtrangan, who resigned this morning as a deputy leader over the sexual assault scandal, allegedly implicating Prinn Panitchpakdi, also a former deputy leader. Apart from serving on
Candidates for Bangkok Governor campaigned in various areas of the capital yesterday (Sunday), gearing up for gubernatorial and council elections on May 22nd, the first in nine years. Candidate No. 4 Suchatvee Suwansawat of the Democrat Party, along with former Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin and city councillor candidates campaigned at Suan Luang Rama 9 in
Thailand’s oldest political party, the Democrats, has seen yet another resignation of a senior member over the sexual abuse scandal, in which Prinn Panitchpakdi, a former deputy leader, is allegedly implicated. Veteran politician and former leader of the student movement during the student uprising in 1973, Kanok Wongtrangan said in his Facebook post today (Monday)
The opposition Pheu Thai party has set a target to win as many as 251 parliamentary seats in the next general election. Party leader Chonlanan Srikaew said at the party’s general assembly, held today (Sunday) on the theme of “Landslide Pheu Thai for every Thai Citizen”, that the only way for the party to form
Former Democrat Party deputy leader Vittaya Kaewparadai resigned from the party today (Friday), with a parting warning to the executive committee that the sex assault scandal in which Prinn Panitchpakdi is allegedly implicated, has seriously damaged the party’s reputation and that the committee must do more. A former health minister, government whip chief, and MP
