Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is unfit to be Thailand’s next prime minister for a number of reasons, ranging from his lack of fiscal discipline and courage in making crucial decisions for fear of losing his popularity, to being temperamental and his appeasement policy toward China, said former deputy prime minister Pridiyathorn Devakula in his commentary
The Thai Journalists Association (TJA) on Sunday issued a statement addressed to all political party leaders, urging them to join its campaign for the revocation of four executive orders issued by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) that have imposed restrictions on press freedom and freedom of expression. Even though NCPO have already
Political parties can hold fund-raising events until the Royal Decree on the election of members of the parliament comes into effect after which such activities are banned, but political donations can be received all the time, according to Election Commission’s deputy secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee. He was responding to questions related to a fund-raising banquet organized by Palang
A fallout from the pro-government Palang Pracharat’s fund-raising banquet on Wednesday night has caused uneasiness for Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), two of the government agencies reported to have financially supported the event. They both issued denials that they had anything to do with the function which has put
The Election Commission has promised to look into the pro-junta Palang Pracharat’s much-celebrated fund raising on Wednesday night to determine whether donations by either individuals or organizations conform with the law. The EC’s move is in response to mounting criticisms of the fund-raising banquet that was reported to have raised as much as 650 million
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned Thursday after clashing with President Donald Trump over the abrupt withdrawal of US troops from Syria and after two years of deep disagreements over America’s role in the world. Mattis, perhaps the most respected foreign policy official in Trump’s administration, will leave by the end of February
The Democrat Party on Friday unveiled an economic policy designed to guarantee minimum wages for labourers at no less than 120,000 baht per annum and the minimum price of rice at not less than 10,000 baht per ton. It also seeks to enable the Sor Por Kor (land reform) land documents to be used as
WASHINGTON (REUTERS, AFP) – The US House of Representatives adjourned Friday without Congress passing a spending deal, assuring a partial government shutdown at midnight as President Donald Trump and lawmakers remain at odds over border wall funding. Operations for several key agencies will cease starting at 12:01am Saturday (12:01pm Bangkok time), despite last-ditch talks that
Twenty-five political parties, including the Democrat and Pheu Thai, signed a memorandum of understanding today, pledging to strictly follow the election law and related regulations, to engage in peaceful election campaigning and to refrain from using foul languages during electioneering. They also pledged, among other things, to respect the voices of the people, to allow
An attempt is reportedly under way to put together a political alliance among parties not allied with the pro-government Palang Pracharat party to form a coalition if they together manage to win more than half of the 500 seats of the House of Representatives in the forthcoming election. Prachachart party leader Wan Muhamad Noor Matha
The Pheu Thai Party, ironically as its critics may say, will be hoping money does not matter as much in next year’s election. The Democrats, meanwhile, are struggling to cope with what appears to be a financial turn of the tide. As the rival camps wince, the Palang Pracharat Party has gleefully wrapped up a fund–raising dinner
The pro-military Palang Pracharat party has raised an estimated 650 million baht – 50 million baht more than initial projection — from a fund-raising banquet held Wednesday night at Impact Muang Thong Thanee convention hall, according to its deputy leader Natthaphol Teepsuwan. He said the party would cross-check each of the donations to make sure
