Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
The March-24 general election sees not only a huge number of first-time voters but also a large number of young politicians making their political debut. Representatives of five political parties, having thrown their hat into the political ring for the first time, took part in a forum organized by Thai PBS Friday night to share
The Appeals Court today upheld the two-year prison sentence imposed on former Pheu Thai party leader Yongyuth Vichaidit for malfeasance in office in connection with the Alpine golf course in Bangkok’s neighboring province of Pathum Thani. The 77-year-old former deputy permanent secretary of interior was, however, granted bail. He is entitled to appeal the verdict
The Thai Broadcast Journalists Association (TBJA) today called on the management of the state-owned Mass Communications Organization of Thailand (MCOT) to review its order removing the host of an election program for alleged bias. In a statement, the TBJA said that the action by the operator of Channel 9 in removing Mrs. Orawan Choodee, a co-host with veteran journalist Veera Thirapat of the “Election
In an election dominated by political polarization and bread-and-butter issues, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that foreign policy has been put on the backburner. But candidates in the upcoming March-24 general election have admitted that dealing with the fast-changing world is a major challenge awaiting the post-election administration. They agreed during an election forum
Reforming the military has become a battle cry for several political parties contesting the upcoming general election. Downsizing the armed forces and cutting back defence budget as well as replacing military conscripts with volunteers are among ideas floated by political parties hoping to tap into what they believe to be resentments of the military among
All the 206 constituency and party-list candidates from the little known Thai Friend party have been disqualified from contesting the March 24th election after the party was found by the Supreme Court’s Electoral Cases Division to have failed to fulfill mandatory requirements of the Political Parties Act. According to the Court, the Thai Friend party
The pro-junta Palang Pracharat party has received a boost after the Election Commission gave its approval for the Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to join party candidates on the hustings. The ruling followed a question raised by party leader Mr. Uttama Savanayana asking if it is legally permissible for General Prayut, its prime ministerial candidate, to
The Central Administrative Court has quashed an attempt by the pro-Thaksin Thai Raksa Chart party to spare itself from possible dissolution by the Constitutional Court for its controversial nomination of Princess Ubolratana as its prime ministerial candidate. In a ruling released today, the Central Administrative Court rejected a petition, filed by legal advisor Mr. Ruangkrai
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — The nuclear summit between President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un collapsed today after the two sides failed to reach a deal due to a standoff over U.S. sanctions on the reclusive nation, a dispiriting end to high-stakes meetings meant to disarm a global threat. Trump, in a news
US President Donald Trump shook hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the start of their second summit Wednesday and predicted successful talks with the totalitarian state over its nuclear weapons. Trump foresaw a “very successful” summit as the pair greeted each other at the luxury Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi to
The Constitutional Court has set March 7 as the date to decide the fate of Thai Raksa Chart Party which is facing the prospect of being dissolved for nominating Princess Ubolratna as its prime minister candidate. The court this afternoon spent about three hours deliberating the request from the Election Commission for it to consider
Tackling bread-and-butter issues was the focus of the debate of representatives of five political parties taking part in an election forum organized by Thai PBS on Tuesday night. They took a common stand in trying to reduce economic disparity and raise income for the poor and those in the agricultural sector. However, each offered different
