Politics News
Thailand politics news, government updates, policy changes, and election coverage—stay informed on key political events, leaders, and decisions shaping the nation. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for political news in Thailand.
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Sponsored How one hospital visit in Thailand could cost more than your whole trip
Thailand is a favourite spot for travellers who want to enjoy more while spending less. From cheap street food to low-cost hotels and fun attractions, it’s easy to stretch your budget here. But there’s one thing many people don’t think...
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Paetongtarn pushes Malaysia to act fast on floods and trade routes
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra made an urgent call to Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, while in Berlin for the ITB 2025, pressing for swift action on flood relief in the Golok River basin and a key border infrastructure project that could boost trade between the two nations. Speaking at 9am local time yesterday, March 6 (six hours behind Thailand), PM…
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Thailand halts airport transfer plan due to financial concerns
Thailand’s Transport Ministry has abruptly scrapped plans to transfer Krabi, Udon Thani, and Buriram airports to Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT), citing financial and operational concerns. Instead, officials are shifting focus towards developing state-run airports to generate more income and reduce reliance on government funding. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri announced yesterday, March 6, that the transfer, initially approved by…
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Royal Thai Navy’s billion-baht battle over subs and frigates
Thailand’s troubled submarine deal and ambitious warship plans are caught in political limbo, with the Pheu Thai-led government showing little urgency in making key defence decisions. As Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra prepares for a censure debate later this month, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN)’s long-stalled projects remain up in the air. The RTN initially accepted China’s offer of an S26T…
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Fury on the streets: Protesters clash with govt over casino bill
Angry protesters stormed the Finance Ministry yesterday, demanding the government scrap its controversial plan to legalise casinos. The demonstration, led by three hardline groups, accused Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat of backing a bill that, they claim, will open the floodgates for Thai gamblers rather than targeting foreign tourists. The Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform, the Dharma…
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Thai court annuls 50-year-old student hairstyle regulation
The Supreme Administrative Court has annulled a long-standing Education Ministry regulation, originally established 50 years ago, which restricted students’ hairstyles. This final decision, delivered yesterday, March 5, resolves a contentious issue that has involved educators, students, and parents. The regulation, implemented in 1975, was immediately nullified by the court for infringing upon individual freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and being…
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Home for Thais registration ends soon, housing lottery set for April
Registration for the Home for Thais initiative will end this month, with a property owner lottery scheduled for next month, according to Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote. Since the project started on January 17, around 350,000 people have registered. However, fewer than half, approximately 140,000 applicants, have passed the initial qualification screening, making them eligible for housing loans from the…
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Israel boosts Thai worker quota to 21,000 amid labour shortages
Israel has decided to increase the number of Thai workers in its agriculture and construction sectors to 21,000 positions this year, as announced by Labour Minister Rabbi Yoav Ben Tzur. During an official visit to Thailand concluding today, Ben Tzur addressed the press at the Israeli Embassy. He, along with Thai Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, signed a memorandum of understanding…
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Election commission skips key meeting on Senate vote-fixing probe
The Election Commission (EC) refused to attend a key Department of Special Investigation (DSI) board meeting today, where officials were set to decide on launching an investigation into alleged collusion in last year’s Senate election. Instead, the EC opted to send a formal letter asserting its sole authority over the matter. The decision was made during an internal meeting on…
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Thailand makes biggest-ever showcase at ITB Berlin 2025
Thailand is making its biggest-ever splash at ITB Berlin 2025, the world’s largest travel trade show, with an expanded exhibition space and a record-breaking delegation of 160 Thai tourism operators. The event, running from March 4 to 6 in Berlin, Germany, will mark Thailand’s strongest push yet to capture the European travel market. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong announced…
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Phuket cracks down on deadly road accidents with safety workshop
Phuket officials are stepping up their fight against dangerous road accidents with a new strategy aimed at reducing fatalities and making roads safer. With alarming accident statistics continuing to rise, officials gathered for a high-level road safety workshop to analyse crash causes and implement life-saving measures. The Phuket Road Safety Centre hosted the event yesterday, March 4, at Phuket Provincial…
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Thailand allegedly snubbed US, Canada, Oz, Uyghur asylum offers
Thailand snubbed asylum offers, from the US, Canada, and Australia, and deported 48 ethnic Uyghurs to China, according to Reuters. The move comes despite a decade-long detention limbo and impassioned calls from UN human rights experts for the Uyghurs’ safety. The Government of Thailand staunchly defended the deportation, asserting it was carried out in line with their legal and human…
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Thai social security office vows check-ups on clinics for better care
The Social Security Office clarified its commitment to stringent checks on medical facilities under the Social Security system, aiming to enhance the insured’s quality of life. Niyada Saneemanomai, a government spokesperson, yesterday, March 4, addressed a case where an insured person died of heart failure after receiving treatment at a hospital under the social security system. The patient was initially…
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Prawit to lead no-confidence debate against PM Paetongtarn
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader General Prawit Wongsuwan is set to lead party members of Parliament in a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on March 24, according to PPRP Secretary-General Paiboon Nititawan. Paiboon stated that the PPRP will have a two-hour slot to scrutinise the prime minister, with General Prawit actively participating in the proceedings. The debate will address several…
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Thailand forms task force to combat border crime
Thailand is ramping up its fight against border crime, drug trafficking, and call centre scams with a newly established security task force, granting the military greater control over cross-border threats. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra signed an executive order on February 28, forming the Committee for the Prevention and Resolution of Security Threats in Border Areas with Neighbouring Countries. The initiative…
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Thai hotels fear Songkran impact from Uyghur controversy
The Thai Hotels Association expressed concerns over potential impacts on the upcoming Songkran festival due to Thailand’s decision to repatriate Uyghurs to China. The decision by the Government of Thailand action has drawn warnings from Japan and the United States, while Australia has issued a strong disapproval statement. The European Union has also expressed regret, citing violations of the non-refoulement…
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Pattaya cracks down on shady grabs and sinking streets
Pattaya officials are cracking down on illegal land grabs and worsening flood woes, with urgent measures underway to reclaim public property and overhaul drainage systems. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet and Bang Lamung District Chief Patcharaphat Sritanyanon chaired an emergency meeting to address these pressing concerns, focusing on two major crises: illegal encroachment at Sukhawadee House and persistent flooding in the city’s…
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Thai man blames social security delay for brother’s death
A Thai man blamed delayed treatment under the Social Security Office (SSO) for his brother’s death while others came forward to express their disappointment over the poor quality of medical care provided under the SSO. Facebook user Chatpat Chuthichok shared the story of his brother yesterday, March 2. His brother died in hospital on February 28 after a lengthy wait…
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Thai MotoGP bid runs out of track as Thailand hits the brakes
Chang International Circuit chairman Newin Chidchob expressed his disappointment on Facebook that the Thai government has decided not to extend the MotoGP contract in 2027. Newin took to his Facebook account, ลุงเนวิน (meaning Uncle Newin), to inform Thai MotoGP fans that the event would be held at Chang International Circuit for the last time in 2026 unless the Ministry of Tourism…
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Thailand sees record 1.13 trillion baht foreign investment boost
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed optimism about Thailand’s economic prospects, highlighting significant foreign investment, which reached over 1.13 trillion baht last year, the highest in a decade. In a monthly Empowering Thais TV segment aired by the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, the premier shares her optimism in regards to economic trajectory, despite last year’s 2.5% growth. “We will work…
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Tiktok to invest 300bn baht in Thai tech hub development
TikTok plans to invest approximately 300 billion baht in Thailand over the next five years to transform the country into an ASEAN technology hub. The decision emerged from discussions yesterday, February 28, between Helena Lersch, TikTok’s vice-president of public policy, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Bangkok, as reported by Government Spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub. Lersch expressed appreciation for the Thai…
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Thai minister refutes 92 billion baht foreign healthcare cost claim
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin addressed public concerns after the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) reported that healthcare costs for foreign workers reached 92 billion baht last year. He clarified that the actual figure was closer to 2 billion baht. Somsak acknowledged that healthcare spending increased during 2021 and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, noting that the…
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Opposition demands probe into NACC’s Prawit asset case
Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut has requested that House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha initiate an investigation into the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s (NACC) handling of several prominent malfeasance cases. The opposition is particularly concerned about the decision by five NACC members to terminate a fact-finding mission into the actions of former Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan. Prawit was accused of failing…
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Thailand Anti-Discrimination Bill set for Cabinet approval by April
The Department of Rights and Liberties Protection has announced that the government’s version of the Anti-Discrimination Bill is anticipated to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval by April. Somdech Poonnampao, head of the department’s legal division, stated that the bill’s drafting originated from a 2019 proposal by civil society groups. These organisations encouraged the Ministry of Justice to prepare…
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Labour Ministry backs export of Muay Thai coaches to Hong Kong
The Labour Ministry has committed to fully supporting the export of Muay Thai boxing coaches to Hong Kong, where there is a significant demand for their expertise. This commitment was highlighted during Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn’s recent visit to the territory. During his visit, Phiphat, accompanied by senior ministry officials, toured a fitness centre on Fa Yuen Street in Mong…
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New entertainment complex law to shake up Thailand’s nightlife
A controversial new law that could revolutionise Thailand’s entertainment industry is set to be reviewed by the Cabinet on March 11, sparking curiosity and speculation about the future of nightlife in the country. The Entertainment Complex Business Act aims to regulate entertainment venues more strictly, impacting nightclubs, bars, and other entertainment establishments nationwide. The Council of State recently returned the…
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Thailand deports 40 Uyghurs to China despite UNHCR warnings
Thailand has deported 40 Uyghurs to China after holding them for over a decade, drawing condemnation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The agency expressed its deepest condolences and labelled the deportation a violation of international law. UNHCR reported that it repeatedly requested access to the detained Uyghurs, who feared persecution if returned to China. Thai officials…
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Thailand deports 40 Uyghurs to China amid global outrage
Thailand has secretly deported 40 Uyghur detainees to China after nearly 11 years in detention, sparking international outrage and accusations of human rights violations. The deportation was confirmed by Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who stated that the transfer was conducted under international standards and after receiving assurances from China regarding the detainees’ welfare. The operation began in the early hours…
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Thailand to introduce 300-baht tourism tax
Thailand is set to introduce a 300-baht tourism tax for foreign visitors by the end of this year, sparking debate over its potential impact on the travel industry. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong confirmed that the fee is expected to take effect during Thailand’s High Season, provided it is approved and published in the Royal Gazette by March. The…
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DSI investigates potential rigging in last year’s Senate election
The Department of Special Investigation’s (DSI) special cases board will address complaints related to the Senate election held last year with transparency, according to Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong. Yesterday, February 26, the minister met with unsuccessful candidates and those on the reserve list of senators who supported him amid rising tensions between the DSI and the Senate. Some senators have…
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Thaksin vows to end Thai unrest, sparking strategy concerns
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s commitment to ending the unrest in southern Thailand by next year has sparked concerns and led to inquiries regarding the government’s actual strategies to address the situation, according to a political scholar from Thammasat University. As an informal adviser to the ASEAN chair, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Thaksin made a significant visit to the…
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