Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Behind every successful man there stands a strong woman, goes the old saying. And no one illustrates this better than Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, who has taken much credit for the success of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra – her ex-husband – in both business and politics. Despite their divorce in 2008, Potjaman still
Former Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith has been named as Thailand’s new Finance Minister, succeeding Mr. Pridi Daochai, who resigned on September 1st after only 20 days in the office. An informed Government source said that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has already submitted Mr. Arkhom’s name to His Majesty the King for Royal approval. Mr.
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police arrested at least 86 people on suspicion of unauthorized assembly on China’s National Day holiday after crowds gathered on the streets of a popular shopping district and other areas chanting pro-democracy slogans. Those arrested included four district councilors, police said in a statement posted on Facebook. They
The opposition Pheu Thai Party’s first priority is to pursue the restoration of true democracy in Thailand and to join with all political groups to amend the Constitution, announced Mr. Sompong Amornvivat, following his re-election as the party’s leader at a general meeting of party members today (Thursday). The meeting also elected 10 deputy leaders,
The fate of Thailand’s Constitution is hanging in the balance after Parliament last week failed to vote on whether it should be amended. Instead, lawmakers, mainly government MPs and senators, overwhelmingly voted to set up a committee to study charter amendment proposals – a move widely seen as a delaying tactic. The move also
Bangkok’s high-school student members of the so-called “Bad Student” movement will stage a rally in front of the Ministry of Education late tomorrow (Friday) afternoon, to protest against Education Minister Nuttapol Teepsuwan for failing to solve problems of alleged harassment of students at schools and beatings of kindergarten children. Alleged abuses of school children by
A former election candidate, for the opposition Pheu Thai Party, has threatened to sue the Election Commission (EC) after the Supreme Court’s Division for Election Cases dismissed the EC’s petition to revoke the candidate’s election rights and seek compensation for the expense of holding the resulting by-election. The court overruled the EC’s decision, which found
About 14 million state welfare card holders will be given a 500 baht monthly allowance for three months, beginning in October, to buy food and other necessities at Thong Fah (Blue Flag) shops, said Mr. Lawan Saengsanit, Director of the Fiscal Policy Office, on Tuesday. He said that this welfare scheme will cost the taxpayer
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan have dismissed speculation that governing coalition parties will join with the opposition Pheu Thai Party to form a national government. “You go and ask the one who spread the rumour,” said General Prawit, as he pointed his finger at a group of reporters at Government
A former candidate for Thailand’s Seri Ruam Thai political party, and a Chinese man, were today sentenced to 50 years in prison after they, along with two other Chinese nationals, were found guilty of drug trafficking. They were caught attempting to smuggle 985kgs of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or Ice, to the Philippines in a cargo container.
The acting executive committee of the opposition Pheu Thai Party has approved a new logo for the party, which will be submitted to the general meeting of the party for final endorsement next month. Acting party leader Mr. Chusak Sirinil said that the new logo has adopted the “Uthong” traditional font, to fit with changing
In a move never before attempted by any Thai politician, opposition MP Rangsiman Rome has proposed a “new deal” between the people and the monarchy to ensure that Thailand becomes a “real democratic constitutional monarchy”. He said the deal could be reached through a new Constitution, written by an elected charter drafting assembly. A
