Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democrats will give President Donald Trump one last chance on Tuesday to leave office days before his term expires or face an unprecedented second impeachment over his supporters’ deadly Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. The Democratic-led House of Representatives plans to vote as soon as Wednesday on formal charges of
The old saying “there are no permanent friends or foes in politics” has been proven true once again. Jatuporn Prompan, an activist/politician and a long-time loyal ally of the Shinawatra political clan, recently spoke out against the family’s “big sister”, accusing her of meddling which triggered the collapse of the two governments led by Shinawatra
Thailand’s parliament is due to reconvene on January 20th, after about a two-week break over concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Sukit Atthopakorn, an advisor to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai, said that Mr. Chuan has instructed parliamentary officials to prepare to reconvene and to make sure that strict measures are imposed, to ensure maximum safety
With fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as his role model, Pol Lt-General Camronwit Toopkrajank is on a mission to turn his hometown of Pathum Thani into a highly developed city. The mission will become official as soon as the Election Commission (EC) endorses his win in the poll for Pathum Thani Provincial Administration Organisation
The Dusit District Court in Bangkok ordered the release of 14 We Volunteer (WeVo) guards today (Saturday), including their leader Piyarath “Toto” Chongthep, on 20,000 baht bail each. The 14 guards were arrested by police after they staged a rally at Sanam Luang and then at Kok Wua intersection on Rajdamnoen Avenue on December 31st.
The anti-establishment movement’s dream of seeing Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha ousted from office was shattered at the Constitutional Court in December. The premier was at the centre of a conflict-of-interest case stemming from his occupation of an Army residence despite retiring in September 2014. On December 2, the court ruled that Prayut could continue
Promoters of Britain’s divorce from the European Union had said they would revitalize bonds with the United States, where President Donald Trump, with his shared disdain for multinational bodies, seemed the perfect partner. Come January, Britain both definitively leaves the 27-nation bloc and will deal with a new US president, Joe Biden, who prioritizes the
The pro-democracy movement’s push for charter amendment inched forward in 2020, but at the expense of injuries and violent clashes. At least 55 protesters were injured by tear gas, chemical-laced water cannon and running battles with royalists. After delaying moves to change the military-backed Constitution, lawmakers in November finally passed two charter amendment drafts proposed
Nine core members of the Pro-Election Group were acquitted by the Bangkok South Criminal Court today on charges related to their in staging of a rally at the Pathumwan skywalk on January 27th, 2018, to protest against the delay of general elections. The defendants were Veera Somkwamkid, Rangsiman Rome, currently a party-list for the Kao
School students were both busy and brave this year, mustering unprecedented courage to challenge authority figures much older and more powerful than themselves over decades-long rules on hairstyles and uniforms. Their struggle – in the form of large protests at the Education Ministry, direct challenges to Education Minister Natthaphon Teepsuwan, and defiance in school, to
Siam Paragon, one of Bangkok’s largest shopping malls, has asked all political activist groups to refrain from using the mall’s property for political activities, adding that the buildings and the open spaces are private property. In a statement, published on its Facebook page today (Friday), the management of the mall maintains that it has never
The outcome of Sunday’s local elections was little different from previous polls, despite being the first to be held in Thailand since 2012. As expected, “Baan Yai” or “big house” political dynasties dominated the contests, leaving no room for newcomers. Most candidates who won seats in the Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) polls are either linked
