Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has brushed aside speculation about an imminent cabinet reshuffle, saying that his main focus is on coping with the COVID-19 situation and the prevention of further spread of the disease. “About a cabinet reshuffle, no answer. I don’t want to answer and it does not mean that there will or
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said today that Thailand has no law that can force Thais, working illegally in South Korea, into quarantine upon their return. There has been widespread concern expressed on social media about the returnees representing a risk of a widespread outbreak of COVID-19 in Thailand. He said that it is necessary,
The six-party opposition alliance has agreed, after a joint meeting today, to launch an extra-parliamentary censure debate against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and five other ministers, claiming that the last week’s debate is not over, because two ministers escaped censure. Pheu Thai party spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said today that the extra-parliamentary debate will be held
Government MPs and a senator have separately proposed a special parliamentary session be convened in the light of the student flash mobs occurring across the country. In a letter, addressed to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai, Democrat party-list MP Issara Seriwattanawuth proposed an urgent motion for the House to consider the establishment of an ad hoc
The Prayut government has passed its first test of confidence with an overwhelming number of votes, but the aftermath of Thailand’s first no-confidence motion in six years has served up some interesting surprises. For the government, the road ahead is not strewn with roses, while the opposition bloc appears to be developing some serious
A Pheu Thai MP has claimed that the vote, which was taken today on the censure motion, is illegitimate because the Opposition had not completed its debate, with Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda still unchallenged, and the absence of a closing statement from the Opposition. Dr. Cholnan Sranan, an MP representing the northern province of Nan,
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Uncertainty grew over the political future of Malaysia and the man who has dominated it for decades on Friday as the royal palace rejected Mahathir Mohamad’s plan for a vote to choose a new prime minister. Meanwhile, Mahathir’s party chose a different candidate for prime minister four days after the 94-year-old’s
Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and five of his Cabinet members easily won a vote of confidence from the House of Representatives this morning despite vicious attacks by the opposition against them during four days of censure debate. The vote was boycotted by MPs of Pheu Thai Party, the biggest opposition party, which walked out
Three Seri Ruam Thai MPs and two from the opposition Pheu Thai party have broken ranks to vote for Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, giving him more approval votes than Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the four other ministers. Government chief whip Wirat Rattanaseth told the media, after the vote this morning, that all six
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told members of parliament, on the final scheduled day of the censure debate, that the Defence Ministry is determined to reform the military by downsizing the three armed forces to become more efficient and modern, with the aim of cutting the number of generals in half by the year 2028. Speaking
Former Future Forward party secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul has revealed what he claims to be how MPs of the defunct party were cheated of their debating time by the core opposition party, Pheu Thai, leaving them unable to censure Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda on Thursday. In his Facebook post on
Thailand’s Public Health Minister has signed an announcement designating COVID-19 as a dangerous infectious disease. The announcement is to be published in the Royal Gazette and it is expected to come into force tomorrow (Friday). The designation will provide authorities with additional powers to take action or to adopt measures to contain the spread of
