Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Seri Ruam Thai party leader Seripisut Temiyavet is pressing for the resignations of House Speaker Chuan Leekpai and Senate Speaker Pornpetch Wikchitcholchai, accusing both of them of allowing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to present the government policy statement to parliament, despite the fact that the Prime Minister failed to complete the oath during the swearing-in
At least eight civilians were injured in a spate of explosions targeting power poles and an ATM in several districts of Thailand’s southern province of Yala on Tuesday night. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the violent incidents, but security officials believe they were perpetrated by separatist insurgents to create unrest and to undermine
Some MPs from the opposition New Economics Party will defect to the government camp, Mr. Niyom Wiwatthanaditthakul, the party deputy leader, said today (Tuesday), ending 24 hours of speculation about the breakup of the party. Mr. Niyom today represented the party on behalf of party leader, Mr. Mingkwan Saengsuwan, at the meeting of whips from
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has completed its extended investigation into the operations of Akara Resources Public Company, the concessionaire of gold mining activities in Thailand, with new findings indicating alleged legal violations by the firm and abuses by some authorities in abetting the company. DSI deputy spokesman Pol Col Woranan Srilum told Thai
The cabinet on Tuesday agreed to reward 17 MPs, who defected from the parties they represented when elected, or had been on their party’s list, and have now joined the Palang Pracharat party, by granting them political appointments. The mass appointments appear to be intended to buy the defectors’ loyalty to the government and tame
Palang Pracharat party deputy spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonchana has apologised to the public over the conduct of one of the party’s MPs, who has been heavily criticized on social media for allegedly attempting to intimidate and reprimand a senior police officer in Phuket province for failing to provide him with a police escort. Defending Bangkok MP
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced to his well-wishers in Thailand’s northeastern province of Buri Ram that he would definitely not resign as demanded by the Opposition, likening himself to a cotton fruit, or santol, which tastes better when crushed. Some opposition members have demanded that he resigns for his alleged incomplete recital of the oath
The majority of the respondents disagree with the politicization of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s alleged incomplete oath taking, according to Super Poll. Super Poll Research Office director Noppadol Kannikar said Sunday that 75.3% of 1,102 respondents, polled during between August 10th and 17th, feel that that the oath-taking controversy was politicized inappropriately, while 24.7% said
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said today (Friday) that he is not afraid of facing the Opposition in parliament and that he had not attended parliament twice, to respond to the Opposition’s interpellation, because he had other important appointments. The Prime Minister explained today that he skipped the House meetings to visit the southern province of
The seven-party parliamentary opposition will submit a motion to House Speaker Chuan Leekpai today (Friday) seeking a censure debate against the government, but without calling for a vote over Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s refusal to clarify his alleged failure to fully recite his oath of office. Pheu Thai party secretary-general Anudith Nakornthap said that the
The economic cabinet is due to consider the Finance Ministry’s economic stimulus package, aimed at stimulating consumption and investment, today (Friday). The proposal includes, among other things, a one-time 1,500 baht travel allowance for about 10 million salaried workers to promote domestic tourism. In his Facebook post before the meeting today, Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana
Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission has faulted one of its senior officials for concealing his and his wife’s assets worth about 227 million baht. NACC secretary-general Worawit Sukboon said today that the NACC had found that Mr. Prayad Puangchampa, a deputy secretary-general at the NACC Office, falsely declared his assets and those of his wife, Mrs.
