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.
-
Sponsored 5 hospitals in Thailand digital nomads trust most
Thailand is still one of the best places for digital nomads, thanks to its low cost of living, comfortable lifestyle, and good healthcare system. For remote workers living far from home, having access to a trusted hospital is very important....
-
Bets on: Royal nod to 23 gambles, from bull races to mahjong chases
The Royal Gazette has published a ministerial regulation allowing 23 types of gambling activities within specific time frames, such as human-bull racing, boxing, wrestling, ring tossing, and mahjong. The report from today, October 11, details that the Royal Gazette has released Ministerial Regulation No. 46, permitting the following gambling activities within designated hours: human-bull racing from 7am to 7pm, boxing…
-
Visa-free travel: Indonesia opens doors to 13 countries
Indonesia is rolling out the red carpet for citizens of 13 countries, with its latest visa-free travel policy set to shake up tourism and economic development. Announced in Presidential Regulation No. 95 of 2024, which was formally ratified on August 29, this groundbreaking move targets 11 of Indonesia’s Asian neighbours, alongside Colombia and Suriname. The lucky 13 nations—Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia,…
-
Thailand and China’s friendship to shine on 50th anniversary
China is rolling out the red carpet for Thailand as both nations prepare to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties next year. Chinese Premier Li Qiang vowed to boost traditional friendship and build a China-Thailand community with a shared future in a power-packed meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Vientiane, Laos. “China and Thailand are close friends and…
-
Bhumjaithai abstains from House vote on referendum bill
The Bhumjaithai Party refrained from participating in a House vote rejecting the Senate’s decision to maintain the double-majority clause in the constitutional referendum bill, according to party leader Anutin Charnvirakul. The House of Representatives voted 348 to zero yesterday, October 10, to reject the Senate’s amendments to the referendum bill, with 65 abstentions. The original House-endorsed bill proposed a change…
-
Thailand and South Korea to boost cooperation in soft power
Thailand and South Korea have committed to enhancing cooperation in various sectors, including soft power development, electric vehicles (EVs), and labour issues. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol yesterday, October 10, during the ASEAN summit in Vientiane. The leaders discussed expanding collaboration in trade, investment, electric vehicles, national defence, and cultural exchanges. PM Paetongtarn emphasised…
-
US ambassador vows stronger ties with Thailand
In a high-profile diplomatic push, the US ambassador to Thailand, Robert F Godec, has committed to enhancing economic, security, and humanitarian cooperation with Thailand under its new government. This bold pledge came during a meeting yesterday, October 9, with Chusak Sirinil, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, as both nations gear up for the 200th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.…
-
Pattani: Border patrol officer killed in dual insurgent attacks
Tensions erupted late last night when insurgents launched coordinated attacks on two security outposts in a southern border province, resulting in the tragic death of a border patrol officer. The assailants, armed with military-grade weapons, carried out the strikes within minutes of each other, leaving authorities scrambling to respond. The first attack occurred at around 11.45pm, yesterday, October 9, when…
-
Thaksin and Pheu Thai Party face constitutional showdown
Independent lawyer Thirayut Suwankesorn, renowned for dismantling the Move Forward Party, has launched a scathing complaint against the ruling Pheu Thai Party and its influential patriarch, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The complaint, submitted to the Constitutional Court at 10.30am today, October 10, accuses them of a serious breach of constitutional protocol, alleging attempts to undermine the country’s constitutional monarchy.…
-
Thai PM urges unity at ASEAN Summit to tackle climate change
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra attended the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits at the National Convention Centre in Laos at 9.30am yesterday, October 9. Upon arrival, the Thai premier received a warm welcome from Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his wife. PM Paetongtarn addressed the assembly, underscoring the need for Collective Leadership within ASEAN to tackle regional issues and…
-
Thailand unveils five new higher education sandbox programmes
Thailand is set to introduce five new higher education sandbox programmes aimed at producing graduates to meet market demand and attract foreign investment. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) announced the initiative yesterday, October 9, highlighting its focus on areas with high demand for skilled professionals. The new programmes will target semiconductor engineering, cybersecurity, K-Engineering Work-integrated…
-
Thai forest department eases land use rules for state agencies
The Royal Forest Department (RFD) plans to streamline its regulations to simplify land use for state agencies, as announced by RFD Director-General, Surachai Achalaboon. This initiative aligns with the new policy set by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on. Surachai highlighted that the department will amend existing laws to be more flexible, facilitating local authorities in obtaining forest use…
-
Thailand steps up screening for mystery disease from Afghanistan
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health intensified its monitoring of travellers arriving from Afghanistan, aiming to curb the potential spread of a mysterious infectious disease. Local officials in Afghanistan reported at least 500 cases of the unidentified illness in the Kafshan Valley, Shinwari district of Parwan province, approximately 80 kilometres north of Kabul. The disease’s rapid transmission has resulted in critically…
-
Thai tunes set for world domination with PUSH & PULL strategy
Thailand is turning up the volume on the global stage. The Creative Economy Agency (CEA) joined forces with the National Soft Power Strategy Committee to launch its bold PUSH & PULL strategy, aiming to make Thai music a global sensation. With plans to send local artists to top international festivals and attract music industry bigwigs to Thailand, the country’s soft…
-
Bank policy leaves elderly Buriram couple without government aid
A resident of Ban Silachai in Buriram province sought assistance after finding himself unable to withdraw money using his wife’s ATM card. The resident, 61 year old Tuk Sae Ho’s wife Jamlong, also 61, has been bedridden for over a year and unable to care for herself. When Tuk attempted to withdraw funds from the bank, he discovered that the…
-
Americans in Thailand to cast 2024 ballots outside US Embassy
Americans residing in Thailand are set to gather tomorrow, October 10, from 12 noon to 1pm to support US electoral democracy by casting their votes in front of the US Embassy in Bangkok. The event, known as the 2024 Election Ballot Walk, will see a large, non-partisan group of Americans walking down Witthayu (Wireless Road) from the Au Bon Pain…
-
Thailand and Laos combat drug smuggling and online scams
Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra engaged in a pivotal meeting with her Lao counterpart to address pressing cross-border issues, including drug smuggling, human trafficking, and the alarming surge in online fraud. During the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, the Thai premier, accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan, and PM’s secretary-general Prommin Lertsuridej, met with Sonexay Siphandone…
-
New PM office spokesperson announced at Government House
In a whirlwind Cabinet reshuffle, the Government of Thailand is shaking up key roles, including naming a new spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office and promoting the deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC) to council chief. It’s all part of the latest wave of power moves under PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Announcing the changes at a press briefing today,…
-
New chairman could spell economic disaster, warns ex-bank boss
The race to appoint the next Bank of Thailand (BoT) board chairman has taken a dramatic turn as former governor Tarisa Watanagase warns that a bad choice could plunge the economy into chaos. In a fiery Facebook post, Tarisa urged the panel selecting the new BoT chair to exercise extreme caution, stressing that appointing the wrong person could open the…
-
Shinawatras open kitchens to feed flood victims in Chiang Mai
The Shinawatras are back in action, and this time it’s all about giving back. Former Thai premiers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra have stepped up in a big way, sponsoring two relief kitchens in their hometown of Chiang Mai, ensuring flood victims don’t go hungry. Thaksin, who recently returned to Thailand after years in exile, has funded a kitchen at Paed Kao…
-
No more slack: Thailand tightens the noose on illegal workers
The Government of Thailand is tightening the noose on illegal foreign workers in a sweeping crackdown, with over 2,000 arrests in recent weeks. While the bulk of those detained are undocumented migrants from neighbouring Myanmar, the hunt is expanding to include Western foreigners working illegally in jobs reserved for Thai nationals. Somchai Morakotsriwan, Director General of the Department of Employment…
-
Vaping a chance: Thailand aims to clear the air for 20,000 youths
The Public Health Ministry plans to rehabilitate 20,000 young e-cigarette users as part of its efforts to curb the spread of e-cigarettes, according to Minister Somsak Thepsutin. vaping a chance: health ministry aims to clear the air for 20,000 youths! Somsak’s announcement came in response to concerns raised by Senator Premsak Piayura during a Senate meeting about the increasing use…
-
Big Tai appointed as new police commissioner with unanimous vote
The former Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), 58 year old Kittirat Phanphet, also known as Big Tai, became the new commissioner yesterday, October 7, receiving unanimous votes from the committee. Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra attended a meeting with the Office of the Police Commission yesterday. The key item on the agenda was the selection of the…
-
Kitrat Phanphet named Thailand’s new national police chief
Deputy National Police Chief Kitrat Phanphet has been appointed Thailand’s 15th national police chief following a unanimous vote by the Police Commission, chaired by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Kitrat secured eight votes in his favour, emerging as the top candidate among three contenders. He is set to serve until his retirement at the age of 60 in 2026. The other…
-
Debate on lese majeste amnesty crucial, says former MFP leader
Granting amnesty to those convicted under Thailand’s lese majeste law has historical precedent and should not be a cause for political anxiety, according to a former leader of the now-disbanded Move Forward Party (MFP). Speaking on the anniversary of the October 6, 1976 massacre at Thammasat University, Chaithawat Tulathon highlighted that students and members of the public connected to the…
-
Paetongtarn defends iPad use at Qatar summit amid criticism
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra addressed criticisms after a photograph of her reading from an iPad at her first international summit in Qatar circulated on social media. The image, taken last week, raised questions about the 38 year old’s leadership abilities. Responding on Instagram, Paetongtarn addressed a netizen who posted the photos and described them as embarrassing for Thailand. The netizen…
-
Thai crackdown on activists ignites fresh tensions in Deep South
Five activists in Thailand’s insurgency-plagued Deep South are facing the heat after hosting a mock referendum on self-determination. Yesterday, October 3, police charged two activists and three students for organising the event in June last year, sparking renewed debates about free speech in the volatile, heavily militarised border region. The group, which includes members of The Pattani political movement and…
-
Finance minister prioritises funding access over rate cuts
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira affirmed the significance of access to funding sources over lowering interest rates. Following discussions with Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, Pichai underscored that interest rate policy remains under the purview of the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which is set to convene on October 16. Describing the talks as comprehensive, Pichai highlighted various factors…
-
Thailand races to attract 10 million more tourists before year-end
Thailand is pulling out all the stops to reclaim its crown as a world-class tourism destination. In a high-profile meeting yesterday, October 3, at the Dusit Thani Bangkok, the Tourism and Sports Ministry, along with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), unveiled their ambitious plans to attract more tourists to the Land of Smiles. With representatives from TAT’s 74 domestic…
-
Chadchart paves way for smoother days ahead on Sukhumvit Road
Bangkok’s streets are in for a major overhaul, and not a moment too soon. Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, along with Deputy Governor Wisanu Subsompon, inspected Sukhumvit Soi 23 in Watthana district on Wednesday, October 2, highlighting some glaring urban headaches. Top of the list? The road surface. It’s been damaged by water pipe installations and shoddy temporary repairs made during leak…
-
Thailand unveils 145 billion baht cash handout to boost economy
Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul unveiled a whopping 145 billion baht ((US$4.4 billion) cash handout scheme that promises to rev up the economy before the year’s end. This mega injection is set to turbocharge the nation’s GDP by a tidy 0.3 percentage points. And it’s not just a flash in the pan, the economic boost is expected to keep rolling…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.