Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
The Progressive Movement (Kao Na) issued a statement today to defend itself against, what it described as, dirty political slander over its allegedly opaque disbursement of about 7.5 million baht in public donations. The movement staged fund raising concerts on May 1st and 2nd, called “May Day – May Day We Help”, to help artists
Hong Kong’s leader Tuesday defended Beijing’s new security law for the financial hub, saying it would restore stability and confidence as she vowed to “vigorously implement” the controversial legislation. Speaking at a press conference a week after China imposed the law on the semi-autonomous city, Chief Executive Carrie Lam combined warnings with assurances to Hong
Uncertainty hangs over the fate of the “Four Boys” – the quartet of technocrats who run Thailand’s economy – as upheaval in the core coalition party signals a pending Cabinet shakeup. An even bigger question, though, is whether Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will be able to find suitable replacements if they do go. The Four
The Ruam Palang Prachachart Thai Party (Action Coalition for Thailand) elected its new executive and leader today (Sunday), following the resignation former leader, M.R. Chatu Mongol Sonakul. The general assembly of the party elected Mr. Thaweesak na Takuathung to lead them. The new executive committee members include Mr. Duangrith Benjathikul, also the new secretary-general, Ms.
A 3.3 trillion baht budget bill, for the 2021 fiscal year, passed its first reading in Thailand’s House of Representatives late Friday night, after three days of lackluster debate. The votes were 273 for, 200 against and 3 abstentions. The House of Representatives then set up a 72-member cross-party committee to scrutinize the bill. The
Narumon Pinyosinwat may not have shone as government spokesperson, but she certainly hogged the spotlight last weekend when she was tipped to become leader of the core coalition Palang Pracharath Party’s economics team, triggering speculation that she was being groomed to eventually become the leader of the Prayut government’s economics team. However, that moment
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police arrested a man onboard a London-bound flight early Thursday morning on suspicion of stabbing a police officer during protests of the semi-autonomous Chinese territory’s new security law, officials said. About 370 people were arrested during and after Wednesday’s protests against the law being imposed by China to
Torn down despite its 127-year history, Phrae province’s historic Bombay Burmah Trading Co building may be gone for now. But hope is growing that it will be restored to its colonial-era glory and set a badly needed precedent for architectural conservation in Thailand. Bit by bit, the Fine Arts Department is now rebuilding the
Members of the Opposition described the 3.3 trillion baht 2021 fiscal budget as being disconnected from reality, with a likelihood that a large portion of the money will be wasted. They also accused the Government of total indifference to the severity of the economic crisis facing the country, by formulating the budget as if the
A bitter online row raging over social media influencer Sean Buranahiran indicates that the scars of Thailand’s political divide are as deep as ever. A 29-year-old “life coach”, raised and educated in the United States with a strong social media following, Sean drew much criticism after describing Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan as a
Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has found that former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra abused her power, in violation of Section 157 of the Criminal Code, for her illegal removal, nine years ago, of Thawil Pliensri, from his post as secretary-general of the National Security Council and subsequent reassignment to the PM’s Office as an advisor.
About 12 opposition MPs have signed up to grill the Government over the 3.3 trillion baht budget bill, which is scheduled to be debated in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. Opposition chief whip Mr. Suthin Klangsaeng said Tuesday that opposition MPs will question projects which they considered to be ambiguous, duplicating other work or
