Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Vice Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s office Seksakol Atthawong claimed today (Tuesday) that he has collected up to a million signatures in support of his campaign to expel Amnesty International (AI) from Thailand, which he and his supporters accuse of being a threat to the country. He said that the signatures will, however, have to be
Two Palang Pracharat party-list MPs, Supon Fongngam and Santi Kiranand, have quit parliament, reportedly to join a new party, founded by two former ministers in the Prayut administration, which is scheduled to be formally launched this Wednesday. A Palang Pracharat party member said that the two MPs submitted their resignations as members of parliament, which take
Staunch government critic Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, who was sacked as an election commissioner in 2018 by the post-coup junta, is back in the limelight with a campaign to “switch off” the Senate’s power to join MPs in selecting a prime minister. His campaign seeks to change Article 272 of the Constitution, which empowers the Upper House
Thailand’s Democrat party has beaten off a forceful challenge from its coalition government partner, the Palang Pracharat party, in by-elections in Songkhla and Chumphon provinces on Sunday. The Democrat party’s candidate for Chumphon’s Constituency 1, Issarapong Makampai came first with 48,981, beating Chawalit Athan of Palang Pracharat, who received 32,229 votes, according to the unofficial
Election officials in Thailand’s southern provinces of Songkhla and Chumphon are predicting a turnout of over 70% percent as the electorate cast their by-election ballots. Payia Sirichote, director of the election office in Songkhla, said she thinks the turnout could be as high as 80%, as people appear to be enthusiastic about the poll. 129,000
Former election commissioner Somchai Srisuthiyakorn has urged opposition Seri Ruam Thai party to sue Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) over alleged failure in the performance of its duty relating to vote-buying in the Lampang Constituency 4 by-election on June 20th, 2020. Wattana Sitthiwang, of the Palang Pracharat party, won the by-election, according to the EC when
The Democrat and Palang Pracharat parties have been engaging in a fierce war of words over two vacant parliamentary seats, both up for grabs in by-elections in Songkhla’s Constituency 6 and Chumphon’s Constituency 1 on Sunday. Core members of the two governing parties, who have been campaigning for their candidates, have been pulling no punches,
Jailed student activist Benja Apan was granted bail today (Friday), provided that she does not participate in political activism against the monarchy and wears an ankle monitor. The activist will be released on bail until May 22nd and is barred from taking part in political activities that could cause unrest, travelling outside the kingdom and
At least two activists were detained and fined Friday morning after holding an activity opposing the degree conferral ceremony at Chiang Mai University (CMU). Activists Phimchanok Jaihong and Yossuntorn Rattapradit were taken to a police station in Chiang Mai. They were charged with failure to obey police officers. Phimchanok was also charged with causing a
Protest leader Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul was granted a conditional release today (Thursday) by two courts so she can continue her studies. The Bangkok Criminal Court granted a conditional release until June 16th, while the Ayutthaya provincial court granted a conditional release indefinitely. Panusaya, one of the anti-establishment Ratsadon group’s leaders, is being tried on lèse-majesté charges in
The Thai government took precautionary steps to prevent and control the spread of the highly contagious African Swine Fever (ASF) when the disease was first reported in China in 2018, said Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana today (Thursday), in response to a threat by the opposition Pheu Thai party to grill the government over the ASF
The Bangkok South Criminal Court decided to extend bail this afternoon (Wednesday) for Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul, a key leader of the anti-establishment Ratsadon protest group, until May 25th, and eased restrictions on her movements as well. The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said that the court’s decision has spared Rung from being sent back
