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, visibly infuriated by major political parties’ boycott of a meeting with him and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) this Friday, accused them of not playing by the rules. He likened them to boxers who wouldn’t want to hear the ground rules from referees on the ring. “If they
Strategically speaking, there’s a huge difference between Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha being in the Palang Pracharat Party’s list of prime ministerial candidates and him waiting for a parliamentary “invitation” to serve as the post-election chief executive. Obviously, both options would subject him to harsh ideological criticism, which could, however, be stronger in the latter case.
Maverick former MP of Bangkok Chalerm Yoobumrung has been appointed chief of the Pheu Thai party’s election campaign team in charge of campaign throughout the country. Known as a crowd puller for his outspokenness and tough-guy character, Chalerm said that his campaign speaking team would include, among others, former MPs Adisorn Piangkate and Suthin Klangsaeng.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha admitted today that the pro-military Palang Pracharat Party would be a choice if he is to jump into politics. Answering a reporter’s question, Gen Prayut said aligning himself with the party is under his consideration. “These are the people who have been working with me. If..and if I do decide which
The National Legislative Assembly is looking for a temporary location to host parliamentary sessions at least for six months as it awaits the completion of the construction of the new parliament building scheduled for June next year. NLA vice president Surachai Liangboonlertchai, who heads a committee charged with locating an alternative venue for parliamentary sessions,
Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has ruled out the prospect of his party joining the pro-military Palang Pracharat party if it insists on pursuing the current government’s economic policies that he claimed are causing hardships to the people. He also dismissed as groundless press reports that Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan had lobbied the party
The Democrat party will not attend the meeting on Friday between the so-called “Five Rivers”, the Election Commission and political parties if it is chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, party spokesman Thana Chiravinit said this morning. He pointed out that the original purpose of the meeting as earlier outlined by the National Council for
In politics, there are names that carry with them “good images”. In the end, something is often found lacking and the “good images” can only go so far, and then they are eventually edged out by “lesser” figures. Chaturon Chaisaeng, now with the Thai Raksa Chat Party, is one of them. His “friendly departure” from
As university council members are threatening an en masse resignation to protest against the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s requirement for them to declare their assets and those of their spouses and children, university staff members and general affairs officials are lining up in its support. The coordinating centre of state university staff members and representatives of
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will chair a meeting this Friday with representatives of the so-called “Five Rivers”, the Election Commission and political parties at the Army Club to discuss issues related to the February 24 election. High on the agenda is expected to be the lifting of political restrictions to allow parties to launch election
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha lost his cool today when confronted by reporters who pestered him with questions about the Election Commission’s redrawing of constituency boundaries that has come under criticisms of politicians who view it as gerrymandering. He maintained that he had nothing to do with the EC’s work and the government did not interfere
Thai Raksachart party strategy committee chairman Chaturon Chaisaeng has accused the junta of “taking advantage to the last minute” of rival political parties by allowing the Election Commission to redraw constituency boundaries. The former Pheu Thai party’s core member made his allegation in a tweet today after the EC announced on Wednesday that it had
