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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Court orders evidence in PM Srettha’s ethics case
The Constitutional Court has thrown the government into turmoil by demanding all parties in Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s ethics case submit evidence within 15 days. The court’s decision came yesterday, setting a new hearing date for July 10 but it remains uncertain whether a ruling will be issued then, leaving the government in a state of anxiety. The case revolves…
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PM Srettha scandal escalates: Court demands more evidence
The Constitutional Court has thrown a curveball in the case against Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, demanding additional evidence within 15 days. This comes after allegations surfaced regarding his controversial Cabinet appointment, stirring up a storm of legal challenges and political intrigue. The court’s move sets the stage for a pivotal hearing on July 10, prompting a flurry of submissions from…
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Constitutional Court orders testimony from MFP by July 3
The Constitutional Court ordered the Move Forward Party (MFP) to provide testimony for its dissolution case by July 3, for the court to examine on July 9. The Election Commission (EC) filed a petition arguing there was reasonable evidence to believe that the MFP had committed acts of subverting the democratic form of government with the king as head of…
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Shock as top Senate candidates fail to advance
The provincial senator election at the weekend saw 3,000 candidates advance to the national stage but not without some unexpected snubs. The Election Commission (EC) office confirmed the results of the provincial senator election on Sunday, June 16, revealing that 3,000 hopefuls will move forward to the national level. Among these successful candidates are 2,164 men and 836 women. However,…
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Rice to the occasion: Decade-old rice sold for a steal
V8 Intertrading Ltd from Kamphaeng Phet Province triumphed in the high-stakes bid for 15,000 tonnes of decade-old jasmine rice. This controversial stock, a remnant of Yingluck Shinawatra’s scandal-ridden rice-pledging scheme, has been secured by V8 Intertrading for an astounding 286 million baht, averaging 19.07 baht per kilogramme. The Thai Rice Mills Association yesterday listed the price of 100% jasmine rice…
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Finance minister: Digital wallet funds to exclude mobile phones
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat urged the Commerce Ministry to reconsider its decision to permit recipients of the 10,000-baht payout from the digital wallet scheme to use the funds on mobile phones. He argued that this move would not benefit the domestic economy as intended. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin shares these concerns, noting that most mobile phones are either manufactured…
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Senator demands probe into Buriram election irregularities
The Election Commission (EC) was urged to fast-track an investigation into suspected irregularities in the provincial-level Senate elections held over the weekend, particularly in Buriram where certain candidates received an unexpectedly high number of votes from their peers. On Sunday, 23,645 candidates who had cleared the district-level selection on June 9 participated in the provincial-level vote across 77 provinces. Out…
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Political ally predicts court will dismiss Move Forward Party case
The Progressive Movement (PM), a key political ally of the Move Forward Party (MFP), outlined why it believes the Constitutional Court will dismiss the dissolution case against the MFP. PM’s Secretary-General, Piyabutr Saengkanokkul shared these reasons on his Facebook account. His message arrived just before the dissolution case against the party, which is set to begin today. Piyabutr accused the…
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Ukraine peace summit show different priorities for Asian leaders
The Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Switzerland on June 15 to address the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict, saw limited participation from Asian nations. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, one of the few Asian leaders in attendance, called for global collaboration to establish a “fair and lasting peace” in Ukraine. Despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s appeal for broader Asian leader…
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Thai PM Srettha Thavisin tests positive for Covid-19
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has taken sick leave after testing positive for Covid-19. The announcement came yesterday evening through his Facebook page, where he revealed experiencing fatigue and a slight fever, which led him to undergo testing. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke reported that the Bangkok-born prime minister consulted a doctor last Friday upon noticing the symptoms. The test results confirmed…
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Ambassadors from Islamic Cooperation visits South Thailand
A delegation of ambassadors from eight Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries recently visited Thailand’s southern border provinces, aiming to understand the region’s multicultural society and assess potential areas for trade, investment, tourism, and education. The delegation included ambassadors from Brunei, Egypt, and Iran, along with chargés d’affaires from Malaysia, Nigeria, and the Maldives. Deputy chiefs of mission from Indonesia…
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Thailand to explore AANZFTA ties and new economic partnerships
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has committed to strengthening collaboration under the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), maintaining current markets, and forging new economic partnerships, government spokesman Chai Wacharonke announced yesterday. Delegates from the Commerce Ministry and the Department of Trade Negotiations (DTN) participated in the 21st AANZFTA Joint Committee Meeting held in Auckland, New Zealand, from May 26 to…
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EC intensifies legal push to dissolve opposition MFP
The Election Commission (EC) intensified its legal pursuit to disband the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) by submitting additional documents to the Constitutional Court. EC Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee confirmed that these documents pertain to legal issues surrounding the case and were delivered to the court yesterday. Sawaeng stated that presenting a list of witnesses was unnecessary because the court’s previous…
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Provincial Senate election tomorrow: Candidates must be punctual
The nationwide provincial-level Senate election will occur tomorrow, with the Election Commission (EC) urging candidates to arrive at polling stations punctually without introducing themselves during the vote. Election officials, led by EC Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee, inspected the Vayupak Convention Centre at the Centara Life Government Complex Hotel on Chaeng Watthana Road in Lak Si district, a designated polling station for…
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Pride Month to boost Thai economy by 4.5 billion baht
June’s Pride Month is anticipated to stimulate over 4.5 billion baht in economic activity, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. Phumtham announced yesterday that the government, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, is actively endorsing sexual diversity and collaborating with the private sector to organise additional Pride Month festivities. These events aim to attract LGBTQ+ tourists…
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Thailand pledges peace talks to address Myanmar conflict
Thailand’s newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs has underscored the country’s commitment to fostering peaceful dialogue to address the conflict in Myanmar. During the Meet the Press#1 event held yesterday, Maris Sangiampongsa shared his foreign policy agenda under the banner Ignite Thailand, Re-ignite Thai Diplomacy. He stressed the significance of maintaining strong relationships with neighbouring countries to bolster Thailand’s stability,…
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NHRC urges Thai govt to stop deportation of Vietnamese activist
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the Thai government to halt plans to deport Vietnamese activist Y Quynh Bdap, expressing concerns for his safety. Authorities arrested 32 year old Y Quynh Bdap in Bangkok this week. He is a prominent figure within the Montagnard ethnic group from Vietnam’s Central Highlands and co-founded Montagnards Stand for Justice, an organisation…
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Thailand free of human bird flu cases since 2006
Thailand remains free of human bird flu cases, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC). Authorities urge travellers from H5N2 outbreak areas to self-monitor for respiratory symptoms within 14 days of arrival and seek medical attention if symptoms arise. Travellers entering the country have been advised to remain vigilant for irregular respiratory symptoms. Immediate medical consultation is recommended if…
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MFP’s support for Pheu Thai sparks coalition speculation
The Move Forward Party (MFP) has recently shown a surprisingly empathetic stance towards the ruling Pheu Thai Party, sparking accusations that their previous antagonism may have been an act. Observers have noted two key developments suggesting a possible reconciliation between the two largest parties, following Pheu Thai’s earlier decision to abandon a post-election promise to form a government with MFP.…
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PM Srettha dismisses resignation rumours amid court case
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin dismissed rumours of his potential resignation or dissolution of the House of Representatives before the Constitutional Court rules on a case that could see him removed from office. The controversy stems from his appointment of Pichit Chuenban as a PM’s Office minister. “I never think about resignation or a House dissolution. Let the legal procedure take…
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Pattaya’s peacekeepers tackle homelessness with beachfront initiative
Efforts to address homelessness in Pattaya took a significant step forward. The Peacekeeping Division of Pattaya’s Social Welfare Office, in collaboration with Chon Buri Provincial Homeless Protection Centre, launched a targeted initiative to assist homeless individuals in the Pattaya Beach area. This joint effort zeroed in on Soi 13/4, the local market vicinity, and Wat Chai Mongkol Temple in South…
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US Senator blasts Thai government over MFP threat
US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin voiced his alarm over the potential dissolution of Thailand’s Move Forward Party (MFP). He issued a stern warning to the Thai government, urging them to uphold democratic principles and avoid stifling political opposition. Taking to social media, Cardin expressed his concerns. “I am deeply concerned by developments in Thailand on the potential…
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Digital wallet scheme to include smartphones purchases
The Ministry of Finance confirmed that the distribution of a 10,000 baht digital wallet can be used to purchase smartphones, which are seen as essential livelihood tools by the minister. Deputy Minister of Finance Chulpan Amornwiwat provided an update on the progress of the 10,000 baht top-up project through digital wallets. He announced that an operational subcommittee meeting is scheduled…
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Thaksin’s political comeback: A masterstroke or misfire?
Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra, despite facing charges under the lese-majeste law, is plotting a grand comeback. Engaging with influential political figures and major families, the 74 year old former prime minister plays the long game with a cunning new strategy. Thaksin is abandoning the 100-party list MP seat strategy, focusing instead on the 400 constituency MP seats, a tactic…
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Majority oppose Thai amnesty bill in online survey
A significant majority of people surveyed by the Secretariat of the House of Representatives expressed opposition to a bill sponsored by civil society groups that seeks amnesty in political and lese majeste cases dating back to September 2006. The month-long online survey concluded with 64.66% of participants rejecting the bill, while 35.34% were in favour. Some 90,503 respondents took part…
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Twinning triumph: Thailand to launch second border bridge to Malaysia
Thailand is set to break ground on a monumental project that will transform the region. The Twin Bridge, a massive construction project in Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok, is expected to begin in April 2025. Narathiwat Province Governor Trakul Thotham announced that before construction starts, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) must be conducted. The EIA survey is scheduled to kick off next…
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Bill leaves bad poll taste: Over 60% oppose controversial amnesty bill
An online poll revealed that more than 60% of respondents are against a contentious draft amnesty bill, proposed by Poonsuk Poonsukcharoen of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights and seconded by a staggering 36,723 people. The bill, currently under parliamentary consideration, sparked a fierce public debate. Conducted between May 13 and June 12 in accordance with Article 77 of the Constitution,…
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Election Commission defends move to dissolve MFP
The Election Commission (EC) defended its move to seek the dissolution of the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) due to its support for revising the lese majeste law, asserting that the move adhered to proper legal procedures under the organic law on political parties. EC member Pakorn Mahannop clarified that the commission’s action was based on Section 92, not Section…
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Bangkok rail fares capped at 20 baht by March 2026
The government is set to implement a 20-baht fare cap across all of Greater Bangkok’s rail network by March 2026, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced yesterday. Suriya confirmed the decision following a meeting with the Common Ticketing System Policy Committee. The committee approved the plan to impose a 20-baht limit on ticket prices throughout Bangkok’s rail network and has instructed…
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Thai court to review 2001 Thai-Cambodian MoU’s constitutionality
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) Deputy Leader Paiboon Nititawan has taken his concerns about the 2001 Thai-Cambodian memorandum of understanding (MoU) on joint development in the Gulf of Thailand to the Constitutional Court, questioning its alignment with the Thai constitution. Paiboon had initially requested the Ombudsman to petition the court on April 10 but, after the Ombudsman failed to act within…
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