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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Thailand confirms Cambodia hired US lobbying firm
Thailand’s Defence Ministry confirmed yesterday, December 16, that Cambodia has hired a US lobbying firm to influence global opinion against Thailand, amid the ongoing border conflict. Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, spokesperson for the Defence Ministry, said the confirmation followed the release of a confidential document by the STRONG Anti-Corruption Club Thailand. The document revealed that Cambodia had enlisted National Consulting…
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American man detained in Surin after photographing military airport
Police in Surin province detained a suspicious American man yesterday, December 16, after he was seen taking photographs near a military airport and refusing to allow officers to inspect his mobile phone. Border Patrol Police Unit 21 (BPP 21), which was stationed near Chaloem Phra Kiat 80th Anniversary Park in Mueang district, alerted officers from Mueang Surin Police Station after…
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Thai energy firms deny Cambodia fuel exports after unusual surge detected
The 2nd Army Area yesterday, December 15, ordered tighter controls on the export of all types of fuel at the Chong Mek Border Checkpoint in Ubon Ratchathani province to prevent supplies from being transported to Cambodia. The order resulted in more than 100 fuel tanker trucks being stranded at the checkpoint yesterday. Drivers were instructed to stop and wait while…
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Thai NGO accuses Cambodia of hiring US firm to wage information warfare
A Thai non-government organisation accused Cambodia of hiring an American consulting firm to carry out information warfare against Thailand on the international stage. The accusation was made by the Facebook page of STRONG Thailand Anti-Corruption Organisation on Sunday, December 14. The organisation shared documents obtained from efile.fara.gov, a website operated under the United States’ Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), as evidence to…
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Pheu Thai unveils prime minister candidates, including Thaksin’s nephew
Pheu Thai is set to reveal its candidates for the position of prime minister on Tuesday. The list includes Yodchanan Wongsawat, who is the nephew of Thaksin Shinawatra. At 46 years old, Associate Professor Yodchanan is the eldest son of former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and Yaowapha Wongsawat, Thaksin’s sister. He holds a PhD from the University of Texas at…
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EC prepares for nationwide election following House dissolution
Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has confirmed it is fully prepared to conduct the next general election, with all systems in place following the dissolution of the House of Representatives. A February 8, 2026, poll date is under consideration. Newly appointed EC Chairman Narong Klunwarin, a former judge endorsed earlier this month, is leading preparations as the agency gears up for…
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Cambodia honours pregnant soldier killed in border clash
Yesterday, December 11, Cambodian authorities paid tribute to a pregnant female soldier who was reportedly killed during a frontline clash with Thai forces. The Phnom Penh Post reported that Cambodia’s Minister of Women’s Affairs posted a message mourning the loss of 43 year old Mut Saveun, a member of the 67th Tank Battalion. Saveun, who was four months pregnant, was…
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Embassy intervenes after Thais barred from crossing back from Cambodia
The Royal Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh sent an urgent letter to Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior after Thai nationals in Cambodia were reportedly barred from returning home through the Ban Khlong Luek border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province. Officials from the Thai-Cambodian Border Coordination Office told Thai PBS on Wednesday, December 11, that Cambodian authorities at the Ban Khlong Luek…
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Trump to intervene in renewed Thailand-Cambodia conflict
Following a successful brokering of a ceasefire in July, which ended a five-day conflict between the two countries, US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to intervene by phone call after fighting between Thailand and Cambodia continued into its third day today, December 10. In an interview yesterday, December 9, Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, said he doubts…
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Cambodia withdraws from SEA Games over safety concerns amid border clashes
Cambodia announced its withdrawal from the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand today, December 10, citing safety concerns from parents and guardians of athletes following the escalating clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border. A small group of Cambodian athletes attended the opening ceremony at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok yesterday, December 9. Cambodia had earlier confirmed it would send athletes to…
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Cambodian rockets fall near Surin hospital, forcing evacuation
Cambodian troops allegedly targeted Phanom Dong Rak Hospital in Surin this morning, December 10, firing BM-21 rockets into the surrounding area and forcing medical staff and patients to evacuate for safety. According to an update from the 2nd Army Area, a total of six BM-21 rockets were launched into Thai territory at around 8.40am. Several rockets landed near the hospital…
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5 Thai soldiers killed amid escalating clashes with Cambodia
Five Thai soldiers have been killed in ongoing border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, with fresh confrontations reported this morning, December 10, the fourth consecutive day of fighting since hostilities resumed. The clashes reignited on Sunday, December 7, despite both countries signing a peace declaration in October, witnessed by US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Anwar Ibrahim.…
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Photo of Thai PM with Cambodian governor resurfaces
Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen has posted a video and photos showing Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his wife together with the Cambodian governor, accusing Anutin of betraying former ties to gain political advantage. In the post, viewers can see Anutin and his wife, Thananon Niramit, in the same frame as Pailin Governor Ban Sreymom. Hun Sen claimed that…
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Rocket fire and armed exchanges continue along Thai–Cambodian border
Clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border have continued for a third consecutive day since December 7, with further exchanges taking place this morning, December 9. No new casualties have been confirmed. ThaiRath reported yesterday, December 8, that Cambodian military activity was detected across several provinces bordering Cambodia, including Ubon Ratchathani, Buriram, Si Saket, and Sa Kaeo. In Buriram’s Ban Kruad district,…
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PM rules out negotiations with Cambodia, gives reassurance on the Trump Tax Deal
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul declared that Thailand will end diplomatic negotiations with Cambodia and reassured that the conflict will not derail the Trump tax agreement. Anutin explained that the Thai armed forces already activated full defensive measures, though he declined to disclose operational details. He emphasised that the military will confront any invasion with force if necessary. When asked whether…
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Opposition leader slams flood response committee as headline-making move
Opposition leader and People’s Party MP Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut has criticised the government’s decision to establish a flood response review committee, calling the move unnecessary and performative. In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and released on December 4, Natthaphong questioned the rationale behind forming yet another committee, arguing that Thailand has already endured numerous disasters and accumulated…
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Minister denies hiring designer amid SEA Games ceremony controversy
The Sports and Tourism Minister responded to the controversy over the cancelled SEA Games ceremony design, insisting that no hiring contract was ever made with the designer or his team. The drama began after Thai visual and lighting designer Rueangrith “Ton” Suntisuk shared on December 2 that he and his team had been working on the opening and closing ceremony…
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Thailand and UAE mark 50 years of diplomatic relations
Thailand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marked 50 years of diplomatic relations this week during a ceremony held at the UAE Embassy in Bangkok. The celebration coincided with the UAE’s 54th Union Day. UAE Ambassador to Thailand, Obaid Saeed Obaid Bintaresh Aldhaheri, addressed the attendees on Monday, praising the steady growth of bilateral ties. He remarked that the long-standing…
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Corrections Department defends Thaksin family photo in prison visit
The Corrections Department has defended its policy allowing family photographs of inmates after a photo of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra during a prison visit sparked criticism from a former senator over security protocols. The image, which circulated widely online on Thursday, November 27, showed Thaksin posing with his children and extended family. According to the department, the picture was…
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Bhumjaithai Party gains 14 MPs from other parties ahead of election
The Bhumjaithai Party, led by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, has welcomed 14 new Members of Parliament (MPs) from various parties previously aligned with the former coalition government led by the now-opposition Pheu Thai Party. A special meeting was held at the party’s headquarters in Bangkok on Sunday, November 23, where Bhumjaithai established a new committee focused on recruiting MP candidates.…
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People’s Party mulls Bangkok comeback with new contender
The People’s Party, which holds more than 140 MPs, is reportedly preparing for a potential early election by laying groundwork in Bangkok’s political scene. Party insiders indicate that former MP Sita Divari, also known as “Captain Pun,” is being considered as a candidate for the upcoming Bangkok gubernatorial race. Sita, a former Thai Sang Thai candidate, re-entered politics in 2022…
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Bhumjaithai names 3 PM hopefuls in leadership shakeup
Bhumjaithai Party announced three prime ministerial candidates during a press event, aiming to expand its leadership ahead of the upcoming election. Speaking at Government House, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, along with Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun, will join him on the official candidate list. Their nominations are expected to be submitted…
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Thaksin joins Dhamma rehab as Paetongtarn exits spotlight
Thaksin Shinawatra has entered a dhamma-based rehab programme at Klong Prem Prison, as his daughter Paetongtarn steps away from politics. Ex-PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra revealed her father, Thaksin, is currently participating in the Dhammanavawang rehabilitation programme at Klong Prem Central Prison. Speaking after a visit to the Bangkok prison, Paetongtarn said Thaksin’s physical condition remained stable despite changing weather, but hinted…
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Anutin teases early House dissolution amid censure threat
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signalled he may dissolve the House early if the opposition files a no-confidence motion, warning he won’t play into political traps. Speaking at Government House yesterday, November 19, Anutin said his minority government is ready for scrutiny but warned that a formal no-confidence debate under Section 151 would likely lead him to dissolve the House before…
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Thailand may delay decision on scrapping Cambodia border pacts
A Thai House committee reviewing controversial border MoUs with Cambodia is seeking more time to decide whether to recommend their cancellation. A parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing two controversial memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between Thailand and Cambodia is requesting a 30-day extension as it struggles to sift through a mountain of evidence. The current deadline is December 3, but committee…
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Miss Teen Cambodia contestant accuses Thailand of starting war (video)
A Miss Teen Cambodia contestant sparked controversy when she tearfully accused Thailand of provoking conflict during a speech at a national pageant event. The woman accused Thailand of instigating conflict and demanding the return of 18 Cambodian soldiers. The moment unfolded during the pageant finals and was later uploaded to TikTok by the account @queencambodiaofficial_17. The video, which quickly went…
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PM Anutin denies bending jail rules to help Thaksin
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has denied accusations that his government amended prison regulations to help a former leader avoid jail or aid political allies. Speaking to reporters at Government House today, November 19, Anutin, also leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, defended changes relating to inmate medical transfers, sentence suspensions, and alternative detention arrangements. Critics suggested the revisions were politically…
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Aussie journalist faces Thai trial over Malaysia blog posts
An Australian journalist living in Thailand will face trial after publishing blog posts criticising Malaysia, prompting legal action and international concern. Murray Hunter will stand trial in Thailand on December 22 after being charged with defamation over articles critical of the Malaysian government. The 64 year old Aussie, who resides in Hat Yai, faces prosecution following a complaint lodged by…
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Thai activist Jatuporn hits out at Trump, Anwar over border dispute
A Thai political activist announced plans to protest outside the US and Malaysian embassies over alleged foreign interference in the Thai-Cambodian border dispute. During his Facebook Live programme Thailand Must Come First – Sovereignty! on Sunday, November 16, activist Jatuporn Prompan announced that his People’s Integration Group, along with student and civil society networks, will rally on November 22 to…
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Thai govt firm on January House exit despite opposition heat
The Thai government confirmed it will dissolve the House by the end of January and says it is prepared to face a possible no-confidence debate in Parliament. Paradorn Prissanananthakul, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, confirmed yesterday, November 17, that the administration remains committed to dissolving the House by January 31, 2026, as outlined in the coalition’s memorandum of agreement…
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