Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
The Appeals Court sentenced a former core member of the now defunct People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) to eight months in prison without suspension today (Wednesday), after finding him guilty of obstructing voting at Sukhothai School, in Bangkok’s Dusit district during the general elections in 2014. Sonthiyan Chuenruthainaitham, former Bangkok deputy governor Sakoltee Pattiyakul, former
A Constitutional Court ruling due to be issued on Wednesday (Oct 20) holds the key to the political future of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party’s legal expert Paiboon Nititawan, with big impacts predicted for Thailand if he loses his MP seat. Paiboon is a deputy leader of Palang Pracharath and a close legal advisor to party leader
After 97 days behind bars, former chairman of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) Jatuporn Prompan was released from Bangkok remand prison this evening (Thursday) after the Appeals Court granted him bail. Speaking to reporters and supporters in front of the prison, who had been expecting his release, the former red-shirt leader thanked
Former justice minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga is making waves in the ruling Palang Pracharath Party after being appointed as advisor to powerful party leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwan. Key party figures describe the political veteran – who is also an advisor to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha – as an important liaison between the PM and Gen Prawit,
Former student leaders, politicians of both government and opposition camps, relatives of those who died, Christian, Islamic and Buddhist clerics and representatives of pro-democracy groups gathered at the October 14th memorial on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok this morning (Thursday), in remembrance of those killed during student-led uprising on October 14th, 1973 aimed at toppling the
The opposition Pheu Thai party decided to sack two dissident MPs, Sarunvuth Sarunkate, of Uttaradit province, and Pornpimon Thammasarn, of Pathum Thani province, for defying the party whip to vote against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in the no-confidence motion on September 4th. Party Secretary-General Prasert Chanthararuangthong said today (Tuesday) that the party’s executive committee and
Nang Loeng police submitted its case file, on a lèse majesté charge against Progressive Group leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, to the Office of the Attorney-General today (Tuesday). Thanathorn’s lawyer, Krisadang Nutcharat, said that the police decided to charge Thanathorn, also former leader of the now-defunct Future Forward party, over his livestream lectures on the government’s vaccine
Old and new faces in Thailand’s local politics showed up in force on Monday to register their candidacy in the first Tambon Administration Organization (TAO) elections in eight years. Atmosphere was lively at many sub-district (tambon) offices, with some candidates bringing supporters to cheer them along. Complaints against their rivals were filed by candidates at
The Thai Civil Court today (Friday) dismissed a plea for restrictions on public gatherings to be lifted, submitted by Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) and two Ratsadon anti-establishment protesters. In the petition, the trio, including two who are facing charges for defying the state of emergency, asked the court to revoke the restrictions on public
One of the leaders of the anti-establishment “United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration” group, 22-year-old Benja Apan, was taken to the Central Women’s Correctional Institute this afternoon (Friday), to be held on remand on lèse majesté and several other charges, after the Bangkok South Criminal Court rejected her bail request. Ms. Benja is accused by
The metropolitan police will remain on the offense in dealing with hard core “Talugas” protesters at Bangkok’s Din Daeng intersection, by preventing them from gathering, said Pol Maj-Gen Jirasant Kaewsang-ek, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, today (Friday), after an officer got shot in the head in a clash on Wednesday. Yesterday, dozens of
In an about-face, the public prosecutors have decided not to pursue money laundering charges against the former secretary of Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, the ex-wife of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and her husband in connection with the 9 billion baht loan granted by the state-run Krung Thai Bank to the Krisda Mahanakorn real estate
