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 cracks down on e-cigarettes with tough new measures
The Thai government is ramping up its fight against illegal e-cigarettes with a sweeping crackdown on smuggling, online sales, and domestic distribution. At a high-level meeting yesterday, March 6 at Government House, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Jiraporn Sindhuphrai, who oversees the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB), announced intensified suppression efforts and long-term solutions. Jiraporn revealed that…
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Paetongtarn pushes Malaysia to act fast on floods and trade routes
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra made an urgent call to Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, while in Berlin for the ITB 2025, pressing for swift action on flood relief in the Golok River basin and a key border infrastructure project that could boost trade between the two nations. Speaking at 9am local time yesterday, March 6 (six hours behind Thailand), PM…
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Thailand halts airport transfer plan due to financial concerns
Thailand’s Transport Ministry has abruptly scrapped plans to transfer Krabi, Udon Thani, and Buriram airports to Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT), citing financial and operational concerns. Instead, officials are shifting focus towards developing state-run airports to generate more income and reduce reliance on government funding. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri announced yesterday, March 6, that the transfer, initially approved by…
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Royal Thai Navy’s billion-baht battle over subs and frigates
Thailand’s troubled submarine deal and ambitious warship plans are caught in political limbo, with the Pheu Thai-led government showing little urgency in making key defence decisions. As Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra prepares for a censure debate later this month, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN)’s long-stalled projects remain up in the air. The RTN initially accepted China’s offer of an S26T…
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Court blocks Thaksin’s request to leave Thailand for Indonesia
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra faced a legal setback today after the Criminal Court denied his request to travel abroad. The court ruled that there was not sufficient reason to allow him to leave the country, blocking his planned trip to Indonesia for the upcoming ASEAN meeting. This morning, Thaksin arrived at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road in his…
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Thai court annuls 50-year-old student hairstyle regulation
The Supreme Administrative Court has annulled a long-standing Education Ministry regulation, originally established 50 years ago, which restricted students’ hairstyles. This final decision, delivered yesterday, March 5, resolves a contentious issue that has involved educators, students, and parents. The regulation, implemented in 1975, was immediately nullified by the court for infringing upon individual freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and being…
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Home for Thais registration ends soon, housing lottery set for April
Registration for the Home for Thais initiative will end this month, with a property owner lottery scheduled for next month, according to Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote. Since the project started on January 17, around 350,000 people have registered. However, fewer than half, approximately 140,000 applicants, have passed the initial qualification screening, making them eligible for housing loans from the…
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Israel boosts Thai worker quota to 21,000 amid labour shortages
Israel has decided to increase the number of Thai workers in its agriculture and construction sectors to 21,000 positions this year, as announced by Labour Minister Rabbi Yoav Ben Tzur. During an official visit to Thailand concluding today, Ben Tzur addressed the press at the Israeli Embassy. He, along with Thai Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, signed a memorandum of understanding…
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Thailand to discuss Tri Muk Pavilion fire with Cambodia
Thai government officials are gearing up for urgent talks with Cambodia following a fire that tore through the Tri Muk Pavilion in the Emerald Triangle, a symbolic structure of unity between Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed the discussions will take place at the 17th Meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) tomorrow,…
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Thailand makes biggest-ever showcase at ITB Berlin 2025
Thailand is making its biggest-ever splash at ITB Berlin 2025, the world’s largest travel trade show, with an expanded exhibition space and a record-breaking delegation of 160 Thai tourism operators. The event, running from March 4 to 6 in Berlin, Germany, will mark Thailand’s strongest push yet to capture the European travel market. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong announced…
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Phuket cracks down on deadly road accidents with safety workshop
Phuket officials are stepping up their fight against dangerous road accidents with a new strategy aimed at reducing fatalities and making roads safer. With alarming accident statistics continuing to rise, officials gathered for a high-level road safety workshop to analyse crash causes and implement life-saving measures. The Phuket Road Safety Centre hosted the event yesterday, March 4, at Phuket Provincial…
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Thailand allegedly snubbed US, Canada, Oz, Uyghur asylum offers
Thailand snubbed asylum offers, from the US, Canada, and Australia, and deported 48 ethnic Uyghurs to China, according to Reuters. The move comes despite a decade-long detention limbo and impassioned calls from UN human rights experts for the Uyghurs’ safety. The Government of Thailand staunchly defended the deportation, asserting it was carried out in line with their legal and human…
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Qatar aids Thailand in locating last Thai hostage in Gaza
Qatar has committed to locating the last remaining Thai hostage held by Hamas in Gaza and assisting with the repatriation of two dead Thai workers, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa is currently visiting Qatar, where he met with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani on Monday, March 3. Maris thanked Qatar…
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Prawit to lead no-confidence debate against PM Paetongtarn
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader General Prawit Wongsuwan is set to lead party members of Parliament in a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on March 24, according to PPRP Secretary-General Paiboon Nititawan. Paiboon stated that the PPRP will have a two-hour slot to scrutinise the prime minister, with General Prawit actively participating in the proceedings. The debate will address several…
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Thailand forms task force to combat border crime
Thailand is ramping up its fight against border crime, drug trafficking, and call centre scams with a newly established security task force, granting the military greater control over cross-border threats. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra signed an executive order on February 28, forming the Committee for the Prevention and Resolution of Security Threats in Border Areas with Neighbouring Countries. The initiative…
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Thai hotels fear Songkran impact from Uyghur controversy
The Thai Hotels Association expressed concerns over potential impacts on the upcoming Songkran festival due to Thailand’s decision to repatriate Uyghurs to China. The decision by the Government of Thailand action has drawn warnings from Japan and the United States, while Australia has issued a strong disapproval statement. The European Union has also expressed regret, citing violations of the non-refoulement…
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Thailand upholds alcohol ban on Buddhist holidays with exceptions
Thailand’s Alcoholic Beverage Board has upheld the ban on alcohol sales during five major Buddhist holy days, with limited exceptions for specific locations. The decision, aimed at balancing religious observance with tourism promotion, is expected to take effect before Visakha Bucha Day on May 11. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Prasert Chantararuangthong, chaired the National…
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Thai man blames social security delay for brother’s death
A Thai man blamed delayed treatment under the Social Security Office (SSO) for his brother’s death while others came forward to express their disappointment over the poor quality of medical care provided under the SSO. Facebook user Chatpat Chuthichok shared the story of his brother yesterday, March 2. His brother died in hospital on February 28 after a lengthy wait…
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Thai MotoGP bid runs out of track as Thailand hits the brakes
Chang International Circuit chairman Newin Chidchob expressed his disappointment on Facebook that the Thai government has decided not to extend the MotoGP contract in 2027. Newin took to his Facebook account, ลุงเนวิน (meaning Uncle Newin), to inform Thai MotoGP fans that the event would be held at Chang International Circuit for the last time in 2026 unless the Ministry of Tourism…
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Thailand sees record 1.13 trillion baht foreign investment boost
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed optimism about Thailand’s economic prospects, highlighting significant foreign investment, which reached over 1.13 trillion baht last year, the highest in a decade. In a monthly Empowering Thais TV segment aired by the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, the premier shares her optimism in regards to economic trajectory, despite last year’s 2.5% growth. “We will work…
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Deputy PM calls for fair censure debate, no Thaksin targeting
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai called for the opposition to engage in a constructive debate without involving former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is not part of the Cabinet. The no-confidence motion is directed at Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, raising speculation that the opposition may criticise Thaksin, her politically active father. Paetongtarn faces accusations of lacking leadership skills, knowledge, and…
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Thai minister refutes 92 billion baht foreign healthcare cost claim
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin addressed public concerns after the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) reported that healthcare costs for foreign workers reached 92 billion baht last year. He clarified that the actual figure was closer to 2 billion baht. Somsak acknowledged that healthcare spending increased during 2021 and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, noting that the…
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Opposition demands probe into NACC’s Prawit asset case
Opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut has requested that House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha initiate an investigation into the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s (NACC) handling of several prominent malfeasance cases. The opposition is particularly concerned about the decision by five NACC members to terminate a fact-finding mission into the actions of former Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan. Prawit was accused of failing…
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Thailand Anti-Discrimination Bill set for Cabinet approval by April
The Department of Rights and Liberties Protection has announced that the government’s version of the Anti-Discrimination Bill is anticipated to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval by April. Somdech Poonnampao, head of the department’s legal division, stated that the bill’s drafting originated from a 2019 proposal by civil society groups. These organisations encouraged the Ministry of Justice to prepare…
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Senate votes to ban small mesh nets for night fishing
The Senate has voted to prohibit the use of purse seine nets with mesh sizes smaller than 2.5cm for night fishing, leading to the return of the Lower House’s fisheries bill to MPs for further discussion. The Upper House reviewed the amendment bill for the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries 2015 on Tuesday, following the Senate committee’s evaluation. The bill comprises…
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New entertainment complex law to shake up Thailand’s nightlife
A controversial new law that could revolutionise Thailand’s entertainment industry is set to be reviewed by the Cabinet on March 11, sparking curiosity and speculation about the future of nightlife in the country. The Entertainment Complex Business Act aims to regulate entertainment venues more strictly, impacting nightclubs, bars, and other entertainment establishments nationwide. The Council of State recently returned the…
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Thailand deports 40 Uyghurs to China despite UNHCR warnings
Thailand has deported 40 Uyghurs to China after holding them for over a decade, drawing condemnation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The agency expressed its deepest condolences and labelled the deportation a violation of international law. UNHCR reported that it repeatedly requested access to the detained Uyghurs, who feared persecution if returned to China. Thai officials…
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Thailand deports 40 Uyghurs to China amid global outrage
Thailand has secretly deported 40 Uyghur detainees to China after nearly 11 years in detention, sparking international outrage and accusations of human rights violations. The deportation was confirmed by Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who stated that the transfer was conducted under international standards and after receiving assurances from China regarding the detainees’ welfare. The operation began in the early hours…
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No-confidence motion targets PM Paetongtarn
Opposition Leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut has launched a political firestorm by filing a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, accusing her of incompetence and corruption. The motion, submitted under Section 151 of the Constitution at Parliament today, February 27, aims to unseat Paetongtarn amid claims of poor governance and political manipulation. Natthaphong, head of the People’s Party, announced that while…
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DSI investigates potential rigging in last year’s Senate election
The Department of Special Investigation’s (DSI) special cases board will address complaints related to the Senate election held last year with transparency, according to Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong. Yesterday, February 26, the minister met with unsuccessful candidates and those on the reserve list of senators who supported him amid rising tensions between the DSI and the Senate. Some senators have…
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