Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Former cabinet minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who led the mass protests to oust the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra between November 23rd 2013 until May 1st, 2014,was sentenced to five years in prison by the Criminal Court today (Wednesday). 25 other core members of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), which engineered the protests whicheventually
In a shift from their usual set of demands, Ratsadon protesters today focused on the corruption-plagued police promotion system, which was raised during last week’s censure debate by the opposition Kao Klai party. Protesters started gathering at Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok at about 5pm. They remained there for about an hour, during which speakers, mostly
Thailand’s opposition parties have decided to file criminal litigation and ethical misconduct charges against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanavisit and Education Minister Nuttapol Teepsuwan, opposition leader Sompong Amornvivat announced Monday. Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Secretary-General Prasert Chanthornruangthong said that the prime minister will face charges of malfeasance in office
The Palang Pracharat party has set up a panel to investigate the conduct of six of its MPs, known collectively as the Dao Ruek group, for abstaining from voting in support of Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob on Saturday, following the censure debate, in defiance of the party whip. The executive committee of the government’s core
Summonses have been issued by the police for 12 members of the anti-establishment Ratsadon group for questioning over their alleged involvement in a violent protest in front of Thailand’s Supreme Court on the night of February 13th, during which 23 police were injured. Pol Maj-Gen Piya Tawichai, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said
Opposition parties are satisfied with their performance during the four-day censure debate, despite losing the vote, because they believe they have won the hearts of many people. Opposition leader and Pheu Thai party leader Sompong Amornvivat pointed out that, although Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha received 272 votes of confidence, they were fewerthan he received in
Anti-establishment Ratsadon followers are gathering in front of Thailand’s parliament, while another group are rallying at the Democracy Monument, apparently due to a miscommunication between the two groups. Panasaya Sitthijirawattanakul, a core leader of the Ratsadon group, told the media at the protest site that they will stay in front of parliament until 9pm, after
As anticipated, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and nine cabinet ministers have survived the opposition’s no-confidence motion, in a roll call vote in parliament Saturday morning, at the end of the four-day debate late Friday night. House Speaker Chuan Leekpai told the media, before the vote,that every MP’s name would be called in turn and asked
Followers of the anti-establishment Ratsadon group gathered in front of parliament Friday evening, but the crowd appeared to be outnumbered by police. Water cannon trucks and hundreds of police were deployed around parliament to maintain peace and order, but the protesters did not pose any threat, besides blocking the road with a six-wheel truck, being
Six water cannon trucks have been stationed in front of Thailand’s parliament, in addition to hundreds of anti-riot police, to cope with protesters from the anti-establishment Ratsadon group today (Friday). According to the Mob Fest web page, protest organizers are urging their followers to gather at parliament at about 5pm, purportedly to observe the censure
The four-day censure debate in the Thai parliament is unlikely to be completed by midnight tonight (Friday), as had earlier been agreed between government and opposition parties, and it may be extended into Saturday. Dr. Sukit Atthopakorn, an advisor to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai, told the media this morning that the opposition parties still have
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha abruptly cut short his explanation of the southern economic zone project and walked out of the parliament chamber on Thursday afternoon, apparently upset that a group of MPs were not paying attention to him. “I think I will stop here because no one is listening, but laughing. That is enough,
