Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana and Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong have lost their posts, as party leader and secretary-general of the ruling Palang Pracharat party respectively, effective today after 18 members of the executive committee quit en masse. Mr. Paiboon Nititawan, party deputy leader, told a news conference this afternoon (Monday) that the resignation of the
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Dr. Somkid Jatusripitak, told Parliament today of the need to borrow one trillion baht to cushion the economic impacts of COVID-19, because existing funding will dry up in July or August. He explained that the money currently available will last just three months, and that it is necessary
Opposition chief whip Suthin Klangsaeng told the Government today to check the money already in its coffers before borrowing the one trillion baht it is seeking under a decree. On the last day of the marathon debate on three finance related Government decrees, the Pheu Thai MP said that the administration is still unable to
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, responded to Opposition claims today that his government has mismanaged the country’s economy, to the extent that it now must borrow 1.9 trillion baht, approximately US$9.8 billion, to cushion the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Responding to the criticism in Parliament, the Prime Minister clarified that only one trillion
An alternative legal mechanism must be put in place, in parallel with the Communicable Disease Act, if the current state of emergency is to be lifted, otherwise there will be no legal instrument available to cope with a possible second wave of COVID-19 infections. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngarm said today that he has been
Thailand’s Opposition parties will propose that the House of Representatives set up an extraordinary House committee to monitor the Government’s spending of a 1.9 trillion baht loan, which is part of three executive decrees intended to cushion COVID-19 impacts on the economy, businesses and the people. Pheu Thai MP Suthin Klangsaeng said today (Friday) that,
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump escalated his war on Twitter and other social media companies Thursday, signing an executive order challenging the lawsuit protections that have served as a bedrock for unfettered speech on the internet. Announced with fanfare, the president’s action yet appeared to be more about politics than substance. He aims
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha defended his government’s decision to issue three executive decrees, one of which is to authorize the securing of a one trillion baht loan to cushion the impacts of COVID-19 on the economy and to restore international community’s confidence in Thailand. Addressing members of the House of Representatives on the first
Thailand’s opposition leader, Sompong Amornvivat, today criticized the Government’s three public borrowing decrees, likening them to a blank cheque to spend without a proper screening mechanism. Taking the floor after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Pheu Thai party leader said he welcomed Thailand’s success in containing the spread of COVID-19, but said that the blunders
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned that Hong Kong could lose its status as a global financial center if a proposed Chinese crackdown goes ahead, and promised a “very interesting” US response within days. The Chinese legislation would ban secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference after months of massive, often-violent pro-democracy protests last
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngarm will propose to the Cabinet on Tuesday an amendment to its May 19th resolution, to replace the Transport Ministry with the Finance Ministry as the sole authority to craft and administer the rehabilitation plan for beleaguered Thai Airways International. Dr. Wissanu’s agreement to act as the middleman between the Transport
Opposition Pheu Thai Party is gearing up to grill the Government in parliament over three executive decrees, which authorize the administration to secure 1.9 trillion baht in loans to cushion the economic and social impacts of COVID-19. Pheu Thai Party’s chief strategist, Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, held a tele-conference today with core members of the strategic
