Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has decided unanimously in favour of serving a notice on Gen. Preecha Chan-o-cha, a senator and younger brother of Prime Minister Prayut, to acknowledge a charge of concealing assets belonging to himself and his wife while he was a member of the National Legislative Assembly, a parliamentary body active during
The parents of Ratsadon anti-establishment protest leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak and a Thammasat University lecturer were warned by the Criminal Court today (Monday) that it may revoke the anti-establishment political activist’s bail if he is found to be in breach of his bail terms. Parit’s parents and Asst. Prof. Dr. Adisorn Juntrasook were summoned as
The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) has decided to indict government chief whip and Palang Pracharat MP Wirat Rattanaseth, his wife and 82 other individuals for involvement in alleged corruption in the construction of futsal courts in several northeastern provinces. Attorney-General Wongsakul Kittipromwong said Friday that a joint committee, comprising representatives of the OAG and
After three days of debate, the House of Representatives passed the 3.1 trillion baht spending budget bill for 2022 fiscal year in its first reading, with 269 votes in favour, 201 against and two abstentions late Wednesday night. The House then set up a 72-member budget scrutiny committee,to scrutinize the bill for 105 days. The
Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn said on Wednesday that the ministry has summoned internet providers to acknowledge a court order to block or delete eight Facebook accounts, groups and fan pages, known for their criticism of the Thai monarchy. The accounts the court order seeks to block are those of Pavin
House Speaker Chuan Leekpai has reminded members of the Thai parliament to comply with its rules and regulations, saying that they are lawmakers and should behave as role models for other people. He issued the reminder to all MPs after an incident on the first day of the debate on the budget bill on Monday,
The Criminal Court has granted conditional release for three anti-establishment Ratsadon protest leaders, Anon Nampa, Panupong Jadnok, alias Mike Rayong, and Chukiart “Justin” Saengwong. Informed court sources said today that the Criminal Court held a video conference with Chukiart, who was being held in custody at Bangkok Remand Prison, to consider his bail request. The
The Budget Bureau and the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) came under attack from a government MP, during the budget debate in the Thai parliament today (Monday), for slashing the funding of the Ministry of Public Health. Bhumjaithai MP for Uthai Thani province, Chada Thaiseth, said that he felt the cut in the
Opposition and Pheu Thai party leader Sompong Amornvivat has criticized the government’s 3.1 trillion baht budget for the 2022 fiscal year as being unrealistic and for failing to reflect the real situation on the ground, where many people in the country are suffering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his opening speech of
With the ongoing COVID-19 surge in Bangkok and its suburbs, unusually tight safety measures have been imposed at the Thai Parliament, as the three-day House debate on the government’s 3.1 trillion baht budget Bill for the 2022 fiscal year begins today (Monday). Everyone, including cabinet ministers, MPs, reporters and officials, are being required to complete
Members of the Thai parliament have been told, by House Speaker Chuan Leekpai, to keep discipline among their aides, as some allegedly tried to jump the queue of people waiting for COVID-19 vaccination in the parliament building over the weekend. Mr. Chuan issued his warning during a meeting of government and opposition whips and representatives
A teenager, under 18 at the time of the alleged offence, has been indicted under Thailand’s draconian royal defamation law, known as Article 112, after taking part in a protest in December, to demand reform of the country’s monarchy, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). It is the first lèse majesté indictment of
