Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Populist polices in one form or another seem to be dominating the debate for the upcoming general election. And a welfare state appears to be most common catchword. Representatives of five political parties taking part in an election debate organized by Thai PBS on Wednesday night offered their own versions of welfare state, hoping they
A deputy leader of the dissolved Thai Raksa Chart party has called on supporters to vote for the Pheu Thai party or for anti-military parties in constituencies where no Pheu Thai candidates are standing. Dr. Pongsak Phusitsakul, also a party-list candidate, described today’s dissolution by order of the Constitutional Court as another milestone in Thai political history, adding on Facebook“there
The mathematical context of the March 24 Thai general election does not change in the wake of the Constitutional Court’s dissolution of the Thai RaksaChart Party. The Pheu Thai-led alliance still needs 376 MPs to regain political power, but it will have to win big and lose well at constituencies. The mountain to climb is, however, getting a lot steeper. To avoid clashing
One-man crusader Srisuwan Janya has threatened to petition the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate seven election commissioners for making overseas trips to observe early voting at Thai embassies between February 27th and March 10th. The secretary-general of the Thai Constitution Protection Association said today that the trips abroad by the seven, which cost taxpayers
Security has been tightened in and around the Constitutional Court building in anticipation of a big turnout Thursday when the court is due to deliver its verdict on the fate of the pro-Thaksin Thai Raksa Chart party. The national deputy police chief, Pol Gen Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul, led a team to check the security preparations. With
Politicians competing in the March-24 general election agree that corruption is a scourge that is undermining the Thai society and dealing with it will be one of their priorities if they come to power after the poll. However, they admitted that corruption has become part of the Thai people’s way of life and that the
Still undecided about joining the Palang Pracharat party’s campaign rally in Thailand’s northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima this Sunday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha admitted today that he was fully aware of the risks involved and asked for understanding. He said that he would be closely watched like prey and would be wary of any misstep
The pro-junta Palang Pracharat party has decided to abandon its plan to have its prime ministerial candidate, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, attend its campaign rally this Sunday in Thailand’s northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima or other rallies in the future. Party secretary-general Sontirat Sontijirawong, speaking at a rally in Bangkok’s Lumpini, said the party decided
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha may take to the podium to address supporters of the pro-junta Palang Pracharat party in his campaign debut on March 10th. Palang Pracharat party leader Uttama Savanayana told media in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani today (Saturday) that the party was discussing suitable timing and location for Gen Prayut,
Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit’s controversial remark, that one of the party’s policies is to complete the unfinished mission of the 1932 coup makers, has provoked a strong reaction among Thai royalists, foremost among them M.C. Julajerm Yugala. “The Future Forward party is like a candle which was lit waiting to be doused. May
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha remains undecided whether to attend his first campaign rally for the pro-junta Palang Pracharat party, due to be held in Thailand’s northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday March 10th. He told media at the Government House this morning that he is still considering the invitation. An informed party source said
Twenty-one anti-Thaksin protesters, accused of laying siege to Thailand’s parliament in October 2008, were acquitted today after the Criminal Court ruled that their protest was peaceful and only turned violent after the police used force. The protest took place on October 5th, 2008 when thousands rallied against the Somchai government in front of Government House,
