Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
China’s parliament said it will introduce a proposal Friday for a national security law in Hong Kong at its annual session, in a move the US warned would “highly destabilising” for the financial hub. The announcement late Thursday was quickly decried by pro-democracy lawmakers and activists as “the end of Hong Kong”, with fears
A leadership battle is simmering in the core coalition Palang Pracharath Party, with its influential chief strategist General Prawit Wongsuwan being pushed by his supporters in the party to replace current leader Uttama Savanayana. Key party figures are playing down reports of a power struggle, but they are also refusing to rule out the possibility
As coronavirus-related restrictions ease and people gradually resume their normal lives, Thai politics is all set to heat up again. Politicians will resume business as usual when Parliament opens for a new session on Friday. Observers, however, predict that political tension is likely to spring from internal conflicts in the ruling coalition rather than from
The Opposition has voiced objection to the duration of the three-day parliamentary debate on the Government’s three executive decrees, to seek 1.9 trillion baht in loans, claiming that they need more time because of the huge amount of indebtedness the loans create. Pheu Thai party secretary-general Anudit Nakorntap explained today that the debate, scheduled for
Thailand’s Democrat party has accused the Progressive Movement of distorting facts about the crackdown on red-shirt protesters in Bangkok by the government of then Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva a decade ago, in order to discredit him and to turn the public against him. Party spokesman, Mr. Ramet Rattanachaweng, said that Mr. Abhisit, and Mr. Suthep
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a further deterioration of his relationship with China over the novel coronavirus, saying he has no interest in speaking to President Xi Jinping right now and going so far as to suggest he could even cut ties with the world’s second largest economy. In an interview
On the surface, the projection of messages by the Progressive Movement and the Move Forward Party (Kao Klai) were simple reminders of the May 2010 crackdown and the May 1992 pro-democracy uprising. But in reality, they have a clear political agenda. Political analysts say the messages are part of a strategy to attract support
The Thai Army’s Directorate of Intelligence (ADI) has ordered a disciplinary investigation into the conduct of an officer, seen in his own Facebook post yesterday (Wednesday) sitting in the chair of President of the Parliament, Chuan Leekpai. The ADI’s action was in response to a call by Mr. Sorasak Pienwech, secretary-general of the House
The Royal Thai Police have been asked, by the Ministry of Defence, to investigate the use of a laser to project a political message, on several government buildings and public places Sunday night, marking the anniversary of the military crackdown on red-shirt protesters on May 10th, 2010. National police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda called
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said today that Thai Airways International should be given a last chance to shape up if the flag carrier is to get a rescue package from the Government. While acknowledging the Government’s obligation to help in the rehabilitation of the financially challenged state enterprise, the Prime Minister said that the airline
Finance permanent secretary Prasong Poonthanate has criticized those engaging in sporadic and highly visible protests in an attempt to attract media attention to their efforts to get the 5,000 baht state subsidy. He also said he is of the opinion that some media outlets are unwittingly being used by these protesters, claiming that some have
Many Thai politicians have jumped on the pandemic bandwagon to offer relief for struggling members of society and subsequently boost their own popularity. The coalition-leading Phalang Pracharat party set up a food bank to serve free meals to people, while Pheu Thai’s Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan has been visiting her strongholds to distribute food, water,
