Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Deputy Prime Miniser Prawit Wongsuwan dismissed speculation that Mrs Yaowapa Wongsawat, younger sister of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has slipped out of the country to escape probable criminal charges related to the controversial government-to-government rice deal with a Chinese firm. Citing a report of the immigration police, he said this morning there was
The Election Commission has made clear it does not object to having international observers monitor the forthcoming election on February 24. EC chairman Itthiporn Boonprakong said Wednesday that he had discussed the issue of international observers with the other six election commissioners and all agreed in principle that foreign observers are welcome as there is
Backing down under pressure from political parties, the Election Commission has agreed to opt for an election ballot design that is complete with the names and logos of political parties as well as the numbers of individual candidates. It represents a complete departure from its earlier stand that the ballots for the February-24 election would
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha made clear today that the Election Commission will be the sole authority to decide whether or not to allow foreign observers to monitor the forthcoming election tentatively scheduled for February 14. However, Gen Prayut insisted that Thailand must solve its own internal problems to ensure transparency and fairness in order to
The pro-military Palang Pracharat party is expected to raise about 600 million baht from a grand fund-raising dinner called “One Thailand” to be held tomorrow (Wednesday) evening at Muang Thong Thanee in Bangkok’s suburb. The event will feature 200 Chinese dinner tables accommodating ten people with a price tag of three million baht for each
The Election Commission has agreed to set a limit of individual election spending of candidates at two million baht each and 70 million baht for political parties. A well-informed source in the EC said that details of the poll spending by both individual candidates and parties are included in a regulation to be submitted to
Selection of senators, who will play a key role in shaping post-election Thai political future, began today with candidates in all 876 districts across the country selecting among themselves in their respective districts for preliminary lists of candidates to be moved up to provincial level for the second round of selection. There has been a
The Future Forward Party on Sunday formally unveiled a series of policies that its leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit claim will change the face of Thailand. The policies range from decentralization of the bureaucratic system and creating social equality to ending economic monopoly and military reform. The party also vows to end compulsory military conscription which it
Blood is thicker than water, it was so said. But it is definitely not for the case of the two Juangroongruangkit clan members – Suriya of the pro-government Palang Pracharat party and Thanathorn, leader of the pro-democracy Future Forward party. In an interview on Thursday, Thanathorn said he regretted that Suriya who is regarded as
The lifting of political restrictions will kick-start a semblance of conventional election campaigns as Thais know them. The greater freedom will certainly increase criticism against the military government, but Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who came to power following the 2014 coup, still holds some key cards regarding activities he does not like. Lifted were bans
The National Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed amendments to the Labour Protection Act which will essentially increase severance pay for employees who have been working for their employers for 20 years upward. The bill will also increase the maternity leave period to 98 days from 90 days, with the mothers being eligible to receive pay
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has been warned not to engage in election campaigning even if he is nominated as a candidate for prime minister because in his capacity as a government official he is legally bound to maintain political impartiality. The warning was made by Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam when asked by reporters whether
