Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Alongkorn Pollabutr, a potential contender to challenge the leadership of Abhisit Vejjajiva, said this morning that the Democrat Party is at a cross-roads and needs to initiate a major transformation in order to stay politically meaningful. Declaring that he said he has the vision and the intention to lead the country’s oldest political party into
Cabinet ministers are free to work with the Palang Pracharath party so long as it is not against the law, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday in reference to reports that a handful of his ministers will join the pro-junta party. He was addressing a move by several of the members of his Cabinet
The Sam Mitr (Three Allies) group, seen as the political recruiting arm of the military junta, continues with its poaching spree to woo former MPs of the Democrat Party in northern provinces, according to a former MP of the party. Samphan Tangbenjakul, a former Democrat MP for Sukhothai, claimed the group is targeting former MPs
Though he hasn’t said it out loud, Prime Minister’s Office Minister Kobsak Phutrakul is leaving no doubts that he is just a step away from throwing his hat into the political ring. As evasive as he could be when pinned down by reporters on Tuesday, Kobsak said he has already informed Prime Minister Gen Prayut
A former MP of the Democrat Party representing the eastern province of Chon Buri has tendered his resignation from the party in what is seen as the start of a wave of defections from the country’s oldest political party. An informed source in the party said Soravuth Nuengchamnong assigned a representative to submit his resignation
Sam Mitr (Three Allies) group has yet to decide whether or not to merge with pro-regime Phalang Pracharat Party in the coming general election, said the group’s secretary Pirom Polwiset. The group is seen as the regime’s election candidate recruiting arm and believed to have close ties with Phalang Pracharat. Phalang Pracharat is a new
Philippine President Redrigo Duterte has stepped up his attacks against the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling the tribunal “a bunch of criminals” trying to investigate his war on drugs, according to The Manila Times Online. In his speech before the Asia Pacific Association of Gastroenterology in Cebu Friday night, Duterte said if the allegations of
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he hopes senators would respect the wishes of the people and the decision of the House of Representatives by allowing leader of a party which can command the majority after the election to govern the country. “Election must be free and fair and meaningful. What is the use of
Sam Mitr (Three Allies) group, seen as the military junta’s political arm, has claimed it has a good chance to win over the former ruling Phue Thai Party in the coming election. It also claimed that three key former Pheu Thai MPs for Chiang Mai will next week defect to the group. Phirom Pholwiset, a
The new laws on elections and structures of the House of Representatives and the Senate have set the ball rolling for Thailand’s first democratic exercise at ballot boxes since the coup in 2014. The most anticipated part, however, is yet to come. Military-backed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, leader of the 2014 coup, has yet to
The Election Commission has announced that there will be 350 members of Parliament representing 350 constituencies in 77 provinces in the next election. According to the EC’s announcement published in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, Bangkok will have the largest number of 30 MPs, followed by Nakhon Ratchasima’s 14, ten each for Ubon Ratchathani and
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha appeared to be annoyed today when once again pressed for answer when he will make known his political future. “What do you want from me? I said it would be after the issuance of the act (Act on the Election of Members of the Parliament)…. It can be next year, the
