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 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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TST pledge to reform military, abolish conscription, a voter winner with Thailand’s youth
The Thai Sang Thai Party (TST) pledges to reform Thailand‘s military and abolish conscription if they are elected in the upcoming General Election on May 14. This move appears to be aimed at attracting young voters who are often reluctant to undergo military service due to the fear of losing productive years, harsh training, poor welfare, and hazing. Under the…
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Wash off the dictatorship: Protesters splash for a cause
For those who love the splashing water of Songkran but wish it was far more serious and political, a protest held yesterday fits the bill. More than 20 protesters from the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, a pro-democracy group, gathered outside the Parliament complex to symbolically “wash off the dictatorship” with water. The rally took place the day after…
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Angry Thai man crashes car into PPRP election poster
An angry Thai man was prosecuted for damaging an election campaign poster belonging to the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP). He deliberately crashed his pickup into the poster. The suspect’s family revealed he was angry at the party because his request for unemployment compensation was rejected. With the General Election set to take place on May 14, every political party has begun…
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Thailand election to be held May 14
UPDATE Thailand’s Election Committee (EC) confirmed today that Thailand’s general election will be held on May 14, 2023. The vote will be held on May 14 with early ballots cast on May 7. Over 52 million people are required to vote. The election follows Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s dissolution of the House of Representatives, endorsed by His Majesty King Maha…
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Thailand dissolves Parliament with immediate effect
UPDATE Thailand‘s Parliament has been dissolved with immediate effect upon an announcement published today in the Royal Gazette. His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun of Thailand endorsed the dissolution of the House of Representatives, kicking off the election season. The Election Committee (EC) has tentatively set the date of the election for May 7, 2023, but this will be confirmed…
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Thailand to dissolve Parliament today ahead of election
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has submitted a decree to dissolve Thailand’s Parliament before the upcoming election in May. The dissolution will come into effect upon its publication in the Royal Gazette, which is expected today. The decree requires approval from Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn. At 9.20am today, government spokesperson Wissanu Krea-ngam said that the date for the election will be…
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Donald Trump faces arrest, but is back on Facebook
This weekend marked some highs and lows for former US President Donald Trump. Just one day after announcing his supposedly-triumphant return to Facebook, Trump claims that he expects to be arrested this coming Tuesday. It would mark the first time in US history that a president was arrested or faced criminal charges while occupying the White House or after leaving…
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New bill to legalise sex work proposed
The Thai government is drafting a bill to legalise sex work to protect sex workers from exploitation. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) has proposed the bill, which will also limit the minimum age to provide or buy the service. According to Narong Jaihan, a lecturer from the Faculty of Law at Thammasat University, sex workers under…
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Investigation reveals Narathiwat police protected weapon and drug suspects
An investigation into the southern Narathiwat provincial police department has revealed its police chief and subordinates protected weapon and drug suspects. According to the Bangkok Post, the commander of police, Waesamae Salae, and his subordinates are accused of taking bribes in exchange for helping drug and weapon suspects. The national police chief, Surachate Hakparn announced the news yesterday. Surachate says…
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US banking collapse has Thailand customers asking, is my money safe?
The recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in the United States has triggered concerns about the safety of money in banks, with customers in Thailand wondering whether their cash is safe and whether they should withdraw it. While Thailand’s Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith insists that the troubles faced by some major US banks have had no impact on Thailand,…
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Woman says Prime Minister’s security assaulted her
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is facing new scrutiny for the alleged misconduct of his security staff. Yesterday, The Thaiger reported on a woman charged with causing chaos in public as the prime minister passed. But now, former Puea Chart Party election candidate, Wanthana Othong, is telling her side of the story. She has filed a complaint against PM Prayut’s security…
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Pheu Thai debt policy a vote winner
The Pheu Thai Party yesterday announced a set of policies aimed at addressing Thailand‘s mounting debt crisis in the run-up to the 2023 General Election. The party believes that these policies will be well received by voters and will help secure their victory in the upcoming polls. The election, expected to be held on May 6 or 7, will see…
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Man goes viral for resemblance to PM Prayut
Many of us – especially the more homely amongst us – have probably wished they looked like a celebrity. But be careful what you wish for because one man has shot to viral fame for his uncanny resemblance to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Thai social media users were stunned after seeing images of a vocational education expert online who happens…
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Gary Lineker’s colleagues come out in solidarity, refuse to do MOTD
Gary Lineker’s colleagues have downed tools and come out in solidarity after the BBC removed him as Match of the Day (MOTD) presenter following comments he made about the British government’s racist immigration policy. The 62 year old host of the BBC’s flagship show announced in a Twitter post on Tuesday to his 8.7 million followers, that the language used by…
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PM Prayut: No more coups, I swear!
Ageing tends to mellow people and, after a certain point, our wild party days are put well behind us. Even rock bands usually turn to ballads after a few decades. And, it seems, military leaders might get less coup-y over the years. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha vowed that his 2014 coup overthrowing the Thai government was his last. PM Prayut…
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Thailand ranks low in freedom, democracy report
The latest report by a US non-profit organization ranked Thailand low in freedom and democracy, contradicting a Democracy Index poll last week. Washington-based Freedom House, an organization that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom, and human rights revealed Thailand has slightly improved but work still needs to be done. The US democracy research group said yesterday that Thailand…
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South Korea’s spy agency says Kim Jong-un’s first child is a son
South Korea’s spy agency, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), says Kim Jong-un’s first child is a son. The news comes as Yoo Sang-beom, quoted what the NIS allegedly told him. Yoo is a member of the ruling People Power Party. Yoo says despite the claims by the NIS, he says it doesn’t have detailed evidence of this claim. “We do…
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NIDA poll boost to sick Thailand PM Prayut
The latest NIDA poll should provide a welcome boost to the health of Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha who remains in hospital after the Thai leader complained about severe swelling and infection in his right hand. A recent survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed that the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party chief is preferred as Thailand’s…
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PM Prayut recovering after hand surgery
Many people have opinions about Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, but one thing almost everyone can agree on: he is great with his hand gestures. Iconic photos have graced The Thaiger and other news sources capturing his broad waves, his hands pressed together in a “wai” position, pointing, awkward “I love you” hand gestures, and perhaps most famously, his shushing gestures.…
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Hit-and-run crash kills Move Forward candidate in northern Thailand
A hit-and-run crash killed a Move Forward candidate in northern Thailand, who was expected to seek a constituency seat in Phrae province. The prospective candidate, Tiranon ‘Lawyer Ken’ Wiantham, was hit by a speeding truck in the province after campaigning on Sunday, February 26, according to witnesses. He died from his injuries yesterday morning. Tiranon was a volunteer lawyer known…
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UN denounces Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, proposes history-making resolution amid war anniversary
The United Nations is denouncing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine amid the one-year anniversary of the war while members reportedly voted on a history-making resolution. According to Reuters, both Ukraine and Russia lobbied countries at the UN for backing ahead of a vote by the General Assembly. The US says the new resolution will “go down in history.” The General Assembly…
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US fighter pilot’s mid-air selfie with alleged Chinese spy balloon released
A US fighter pilot is going viral after taking a selfie mid-air with an alleged Chinese spy balloon. Although the alleged spy balloon was shot down earlier this month, the US Department of Defence just released the selfie. The photo shows the fighter pilot in a selfie from the cockpit of a U-2 spy plane as it flew over the…
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TikTok bans political groups ahead of Thai election
TikTok announced that it will block all accounts linked to political groups in Thailand in the lead-up to and during the country’s upcoming general election. TikTok Thailand’s chief of public policy announced that the company would take measures to maintain a safe community by preventing the spread of fake news and hate speech sparked by political conflicts. TikTok, a short-form video…
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Democrat Party announces anti-cannabis campaign platform
While nearly every street corner in tourist areas of Thailand is selling cannabis legally now (a recent driver in Samui spotted nine shops in a two-block stretch), not everyone is in favour of it, especially politicians. Politicians believe the rushed legalisation and subsequent free-for-all is a strong talking point against the Bhumjaithai Party, who pushed for decriminalisation. Now, the Democrat…
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Chinese billionaire tech banker Bao Fan is missing
Chinese billionaire tech banker Bao Fan is missing. The disappearance of the China Renaissance renegade chair is not a huge surprise but raises fears of a fresh crackdown on China’s finance industry With billionaire boss either banged up or on the lam, Renaissance, one of the country’s top investment banks has plunged into turmoil. ‘Do not believe the rumours’ Bao…
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Chuwit stirs up nest of triad rats
The pied piper of Bangkok, Chuwit Kamolvisit, is whistling out another nest of triad rats. King Rat, toots Chuwit, is none other than a certain Chinese national known as Yu Xinqi. Triads show up in Thailand under the protection of Yu’s “Shaanxi Association of Thailand,” nothing more than a trafficking ring that allows the wrong sort of Chinese people to…
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Thai Parliament authorises lese majeste law changes, including the word ‘monarchy’
In a move that could see even more people prosecuted for insulting the Thai monarchy, the far-right Thai Pakdee Party has been given the green light to gather signatures for proposed changes to the lese majeste laws. The changes would expand the definition of those protected by the law to include former Thai kings of the current Chakri Dynasty, princes…
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Taiwan’s turn as military says weather balloon discovery most likely from China
It’s Taiwan’s turn to take on a crashed weather balloon as the military claims it most likely came from China. The country’s military found the balloon on a remote and strategically located island near the Chinese coast. Taiwan’s army says it observed an unknown object falling from the sky over Dongyin island. The object fell with remnants appearing to be…
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‘No roses on Valentine’s Day!’ Bangkok election commission advises candidates
It turns out roses on Valentine’s Day aren’t a good idea for everyone. The director of the Election Commission’s Bangkok branch yesterday advised candidates in the upcoming general election on May 7 not to hand out roses on Valentine’s Day. The director, Samran Tanpanit, said that roses handed out on such special occasions could be considered by authorities as a…
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North Korean dictator’s daughter makes appearance spurring speculation of leadership role
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un’s daughter has made an appearance again spurring speculation that she may be in line for a leadership role. Although she has not been named in state media, South Korean intelligence officials believe her name is Ju Ae. She was called this name by Dennis Rodman, the former American basketball player who spent time with…
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