Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson raised the prospect of a snap election on Tuesday after he suffered a major parliamentary defeat over his Brexit strategy that could delay Britain’s exit from the European Union. Just six weeks after taking office, the Conservative leader was hit by a huge rebellion among his own MPs that leaves him
The government has agreed to hear the debate proposed by the opposition on the oath-taking controversy that has hounded Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for over six weeks on September 18, Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said on Tuesday. Sontirat, who is also secretary general of Palang Pracharat Party, said Prime Minister Prayut will personally attend the
Thailand’s Army Commander-in-Chief, General Apirat Kongsompong, has expressed serious concern over the spread of fake news, some of which seems intended to discredit the government and the military. He said that, while he did not want to describe the use of fake news as “mind manipulation”, he had observed that some people, when repeatedly exposed to fake news, gradually become influenced by it and finally believe the fake news is true. In addition to the
HONG KONG (Agencies) — Activist Joshua Wong, and another young social campaigner, were arrested this morning by police in Hong Kong ahead of this weekend’s planned mass protest, their party Demosisto said. Wong was pushed into a minivan while on his way to South Horizons MTR station, Demosisto said on its official Twitter account. “Our secretary-general Joshua Wong was just arrested this morning at roughly 7:30,
The US government downgraded its diplomatic relations with Thailand following the coup in 2014 , which overthrew the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Bilateral relations have, however, steadily been returning to normal since this year’s general election in Thailand and the formation of an elected government. The United States looks forward to cooperating with
To cut to the chase, a Pheu Thai-led Thailand will be friendlier to America than a Palang Pracharat-led one. Things are getting more complicated with the current US-China trade war, and much is up to Washington as far as bilateral relations with the kingdom go. Should there be more carrots or should there be more
House Speaker Chuan Leekpai said today he expects Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his ministers to be present at the House session to answer questions from opposition MPS related to the oath-taking controversy. He said he had formally notified the government about the censure motion, with no associated vote, which he expects to be held
A Constitutional Court judge has assured the public that the court will hand down penalties for contempt of court only when it is necessary, either for the benefit of the parties in a court case or of the court proceedings and only with the approval of two-thirds of the nine court judges. The judge, Mr.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha admitted today (Tuesday ) that he had sought permission from His Majesty the King for his message, delivered during the swearing-in ceremony on July 16th, to be provided in a written form for his cabinet. He displayed to the media the King’s framed written message with the Royal signature after a
The Ombudsmen decided unanimously today (Tuesday) to ask the Constitutional Court to rule whether Prime Minister’s incomplete recital of the oath during the swearing-in ceremony on July 16th is unconstitutional. Secretary-general of the Ombudsmen’s Office, Mr. Raksakecha Chaechai, said the Prime Minister’s incomplete recital is a different issue from the swearing-in issue, which was legally
The Constitutional Court is set to rule on the premiership appointment of General Prayut Chan-o-cha on September 18th. Constitutional Court judges today (Tuesday) discussed, at length, the Opposition’s petition challenging the eligibility of General Prayuth to assume the post of Prime Minister, citing his former status as the head of the National Council for Peace
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Rights activists and relatives urged Thailand on Monday to investigate the death of an insurgent suspect who went into a coma after interrogation at an army camp in the southeast Asian nation’s largely Malay-Muslim south. Hundreds of people turned out for the funeral of Abdulloh Esormusor, 34, in Pattani, one of three
