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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People’s Party MP candidate faces jail sentence for rape case in Laos
A People’s Party candidate for Member of Parliament in Maha Sarakham province is sentenced to two years and eight months in prison over a rape case in Laos, prompting criticism of the party’s candidate screening process. The candidate, Teerawat Phanna, ran in the recent General Election for Maha Sarakham constituency 1. He was reported to be a local business operator…
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Army monitors Cambodian-side forest fire, says security unaffected
Yesterday, February 16, the Royal Thai Army said it was closely monitoring reports of forest burning on the Cambodian side opposite Chong Bok, Phra Wihan and Chong Khana, adding that the situation is not a cause for concern. Army spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree said local units had reported forest burning in Cambodia, confirming that the blaze did not originate…
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Udon Thani man says he faces threat after posting vote-buying video
A Thai man in Udon Thani said he received a threat of violence after reporting alleged vote-buying involving a candidate for the Member of Parliament (MP) from the Bhumjaithai Party. The allegation emerged after the man, identified only as Waeng, shared footage of a canvasser distributing 500 baht to residents. Waeng said he was among those who accepted the money…
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Drone carrying explosive crashes near Thai-Myanmar border
Thai military and security officials inspected a residential property in Mae Sot district, Tak province, today, February 16, after an unmanned aerial vehicle carrying an improvised explosive device was found inside the premises. Tak soldiers from the Ratchamanu Task Force, along with administrative officials and Border Patrol Police in Mae Sot, responded after an unmanned drone was found inside the…
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ECT rejects Chon Buri vote recount request, cites lack of corruption evidence
The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) formally rejected a request for a vote recount in Chon Buri’s District 1, stating there was no concrete evidence to support allegations of corruption. On February 9, a group of voters gathered at a badminton court in Chon Buri province, which had been used to store ballots from the District 1 polling station, after…
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Udon Thani MP candidate questions missing vote after casting ballot for herself
A Parliamentary candidate in Udon Thani has filed a formal complaint after discovering that her vote, which she personally cast for herself and her party, was missing from the official tally. Former teacher and candidate for the Thai People’s Party in Constituency 2 of Udon Thani, 68 year old Yaowalak Khamsri, visited the provincial Election Commission (EC) office yesterday, February…
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People’s Party calls for vote recounts, urges probe into alleged election irregularities
The People’s Party is calling for vote recounts in 18 constituencies across Thailand, raising concerns over alleged irregularities in ballot counting and unusually high numbers of invalid votes in the recent general election. Although party leader and prime ministerial candidate Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut acknowledged the overall election outcome, he urged the Election Commission (EC) to conduct a thorough investigation into reports…
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Anutin holds off on coalition talks, awaits final vote count
With official election results still to be finalised, Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul spoke publicly today, February 10, to address speculation over Thailand’s next administration. Speaking ahead of the final election results, he said it was too early to discuss positions or coalitions, as vote counting was still ongoing and had only surpassed 90%. Anutin stated that no decisions would…
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Buriram border residents urge new PM to act on Cambodian tensions
Following the release of unofficial election results today, February 9, residents in Buriram province along the Cambodian border expressed renewed hope that long-standing security concerns might finally be addressed. According to early tallies, the Bhumjaithai Party has secured nearly 200 Parliamentary seats, including both constituency and party-list MPs. The People’s Party came in second with 116 seats, followed by Pheu…
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Pathum Thani university students protest alleged election vote-count misconduct
Over 300 students and residents gathered at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi in Pathum Thani’s Constituency 7 last night, February 8, calling for a recount after concerns were raised about the conduct of the election vote-counting process. The protest erupted around 9pm at the main hall of the university in Thanyaburi district, where advanced ballots and overseas votes were being…
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Ballot-tearing error leaves Nan to faces possible re-election
A serious error was reported at a polling station in Nan province in northern Thailand during the 2026 General Election on Sunday, February 8, after a polling officer mistakenly tore up dozens of ballot papers for the constituency-based Parliamentary election. The incident occurred at polling station unit 3, located inside Baan Sri Kird Hall in the Chai Sathan sub-district of…
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Anutin declares unofficial victory as Bhumjaithai leads 2026 General Election
Acting Prime Minister (PM), Anutin Charnvirakul, announced an unofficial victory for himself and the Bhumjaithai Party in the 2026 General Election last night, February 8, after the party secured the highest number of seats in Parliament based on a 94% vote count. The General Election was held nationwide yesterday. According to the latest update reported by TNN News this morning,…
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Thais warned against wearing numbered shirts on election day
The Election Commission of Thailand has urged voters to avoid wearing football jerseys or any shirts featuring numbers on the back when casting their ballots on February 8, warning that such attire could be misinterpreted as political messaging. The announcement was made just days before the upcoming general election, which is expected to draw a high turnout as citizens head…
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Thailand’s alcohol ban frustrates tourists, hits restaurant sales
Foreign tourists visiting Thailand during the country’s election period have found themselves caught off guard by a nationwide alcohol ban, leading to frustration at restaurants and bars, particularly in popular destinations like Bangkok and Phuket. On February 1, during the first 24-hour restriction linked to advance voting, diners at a Bangkok restaurant, newly arrived from the United States, were told…
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PM candidate Mongkolkit challenges election secretary to fistfight
A political dispute has surfaced after a prime ministerial candidate publicly challenged Thailand’s election secretary to a physical fight at the country’s Election Commission headquarters. Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, 42 year old secretary-general of the New Alternative Party, announced via livestream that he plans to gather supporters at 10.30am today, February 6, at the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) headquarters on Chaeng…
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Thai businesswoman and influencer questions Disneyland Thailand plan
A well-known Thai businesswoman and social media influencer publicly questioned the possibility of bringing Disneyland to Thailand, accusing the Bhumjaithai Party of using an uncertain proposal as part of its election campaign and selling dreams to Disney fans. Amid the uncertain and faded hope on an entertainment complex and legal casino from Pheu Thai Party, the present Transport Minister from…
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Anutin honours fallen troops, promises jobs and care for veterans
Acting Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said yesterday, February 3, that disabled soldiers should receive proper employment opportunities and stronger welfare support, as he led a ceremony to honour fallen service members at Bangkok’s Victory Monument. The occasion, held in observance of Thai Veterans Day, included the enshrinement of the remains of 42 soldiers who lost their lives in armed conflicts…
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New Alternative Party flagged for possible policy violations
The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) flagged concerns yesterday, February 3, about a political party’s delayed policy submissions and potentially unlawful campaign pledges ahead of the upcoming general election. The EC disclosed that 51 parties had submitted policies requiring budget expenditure. However, it singled out one political group, the New Alternative Party, for failing to comply with mandatory reporting rules.…
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Thailand pushes for ceasefire amid Cambodia border tensions
Thailand’s foreign minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, today, February 2, called for calm and mutual trust as border tensions with Cambodia remain under close watch ahead of the upcoming general election. Speaking at Government House following a National Security Council meeting, Sihasak reaffirmed that communication channels with Cambodian authorities remain open, despite recent incidents along the shared border. While there have been…
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Public backlash erupts over ECT mistakes in advance voting
Public criticism mounted against officials from the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) following a series of mistakes reported during Thailand’s advanced voting yesterday, February 1. The ECT scheduled February 1 for advance voting ahead of the official General Election on February 8. It is designed to allow eligible Thai citizens who live outside their registered home provinces, or who are…
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Cobra Gold 2026 brings over 8,000 troops to Thailand
Thailand is set to host the 45th annual Cobra Gold military exercise from February 24 to March 6, bringing together more than 8,000 personnel from 30 countries in one of the region’s largest joint defence operations. The multinational exercise, co-hosted by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (US PACOM), will take place across several locations…
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Ruangkrai challenges Mongkolkit’s four husbands policy
Today, January 22, Thai political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana has asked the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) to investigate whether a campaign policy proposed by Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, suggesting women be allowed to have up to four husbands, violates Thailand’s election laws. Ruangkrai, a parliamentary candidate running in Bangkok’s Constituency 4 with the Palang Pracharath Party, revealed that he had sent a…
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Buriram election under scrutiny after unpaid vote-buying complaint
A Thai woman sparked widespread backlash and an official investigation after she publicly complained that a sub-district chief candidate in Buriram province failed to pay her the promised 500 baht for her vote in the recent local election. Sub-district chief elections were held nationwide on January 11, with official results already announced. However, controversy later erupted in Buriram province in…
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How Italian-Thai Development became Thailand’s most controversial construction company
At 9.13 on the morning of 14 January, passengers on a north-eastern-bound train in Nakhon Ratchasima province heard a sound like tearing metal. Above them, a massive steel crane used to lift concrete spans for an elevated high-speed rail line had begun to fall. The launching gantry, weighing several tonnes, crashed onto the last two carriages, derailing them and igniting…
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Former PM Thaksin may be released on parole in May
The former Prime Minister (PM) of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, may be eligible for release on parole in May, according to the Department of Corrections. Thaksin returned to Thailand in August and was taken into custody before being transferred to the 14th floor of the Police General Hospital under special detention arrangements. His hospital stay triggered widespread public debate, with critics…
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China steps in with 90 million baht aid after Thai train tragedy
China has reaffirmed its close diplomatic ties with Thailand today, January 15, by donating 20 million yuan, approximately 90 million baht, in humanitarian aid, in the wake of a crane collapse at a high-speed rail construction site. At 11am today, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jianwei met with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at the Government House to formally deliver the assistance. The…
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Thai foreign minister seeks clarity on US immigrant visa halt
Thailand’s foreign minister met with a top United States diplomat in Bangkok today, January 15, to seek clarification over Washington’s recent decision to suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Thailand. Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said he had summoned the US chargé d’affaires in Thailand to discuss the move, after Thailand appeared on a newly released list of…
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Thailand’s conservative parties push back on charter rewrite
Yesterday, January 14, three of Thailand’s conservative political parties reaffirmed their opposition to replacing the current constitution, warning that the move could be costly and politically risky. Key figures from the Rak Chart Thai Party, Thai Pakdee Party, and the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party voiced their stance during campaign activities in Nakhon Ratchasima and Surat Thani, stating they would…
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Thailand among 75 nations hit by US visa processing suspension
The United States will temporarily suspend immigrant visa processing for Thailand and 74 other countries, effective January 21, 2026, as part of tighter immigration screening under its America First policy, the US State Department announced on January 14. The immigration visa freeze targets applicants from countries where migrants are said to disproportionately rely on public assistance after settling in the…
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SHIELD system unveiled at Thai-led trafficking talks with 18 nations
Thai police have intensified international efforts against human trafficking and cyber scams after officials from 18 countries met in Bangkok yesterday, January 13, to discuss cooperation, data sharing, and tools to tackle transnational crime. The high-level meeting took place at the Royal Thai Police headquarters and was chaired by Police General Thatchai Pitaneelabutr, deputy national police chief and director of…
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