Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Hundreds of Thais returned to the streets of Bangkok for the first time in months today (Thursday) to demand political change. The protests are the first since the second wave of COVID-19, in mid-December 2020, and as the country is battling the worst surge in infections and deaths yet in the third wave, which began
Two anti-government protest groups have vowed to resume their rally at Government House in Bangkok tomorrow (Saturday), after they ended their protest on Thursday night. Mr. Nititorn Lumlua, a core leader of the Prachachon Khon Thai political activist group, told his followers at about 8pm last night (Thursday) that the group will return at 3pm
Thailand’s joint parliamentary session voted last night (Thursday) to accept, in principle, only one of the thirteen draft constitutional amendments – to bring back the two-ballot system. The draft, proposed by the Democrat Party, passed in its first reading, after debate over Wednesday and Thursday, by 552 votes to 24. Similar proposals, made by both
Police are collecting evidence on anti-establishment protest leaders, who organised a rally at the Democracy Monument at 4.30am this morning, for breaching the emergency decree’s ban on gatherings of more than 50 people in a COVID-19 Deep Red Zone. Deputy Police Spokesman Pol. Col. Krisana Pattanacharoen, told reporters in front of parliament that police had
House Speaker Chuan Leekpai today (Wednesday) reiterated his decision to reject the Pheu Thai Party’s draft charter amendments, which seek to establish a Constitution Drafting Assembly to craft a new charter under Section 256 and Chapter 15/1 of the current charter, as both Houses of the Parliament convened to debate and vote on 13 charter amendment
Thai anti-establishment protesters, including “Ratsadon” and affiliated groups, gathered at the Democracy Monument early on Thursday, to commemorate the 89th anniversary of the bloodless revolution, which transformed Thailand into a constitutional monarchy. With a heavy police presence, the group gathered at 4.30am, the time People’s Party revolutionaries declared the end of the absolute monarchy on
The Thai parliament passed the Referendum Bill on Tuesday, in its final reading, with an overwhelming 611 to 4 votes, paving the way for future constitutional amendments. According to the new bill, a minimum of 50,000 people can now request that the Cabinet hold a referendum, while online and distance voting, including from overseas, will
Thailand’s Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao, a controversial politician who was recently elected as the ruling Palang Pracharat Party (PPRP)’s new secretary-general, said today (Monday) that the party will nominate the country’s current prime minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, as the country’s leader again, if the party wins the next general election. “In the future, if the
Groups of political activists, planning to rally in Bangkok this Thursday, which marks the 89th anniversary of regime change to constitutional monarchy, are being warned by the metropolitan police that they may face legal action for defying the Emergency Decree. At least four political groups plan to hold rallies, mostly at and around the Democracy
The Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT) has voiced its objection to a draft charter amendment, seeking to protect both elected MPs and non-elected senators from punishment for their interference in budgetary management and in officials’ rightful performance of their duties. In a statement, issued Sunday, the ACT said that the deletion of the punitive clauses,
As the new spokesman of the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA), Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana’s first job was to defend the government’s relief measures for people affected by COVID-19. His opening move was to dismiss claims that the measures favoured wealthy people, insisting their aim was to reduce living costs and stimulate the economy. “I call
Thailand’s opposition Pheu Thai Party has challenged the decision, of the parliament president’s legal advisory committee, rejecting the party’s draft charter amendment on the grounds that it contravenes a Constitutional Court ruling. Mr. Chusak Sirinil, chief legal advisor of Pheu Thai Party, said today that the legal advisory committee used only some parts of the
