coalition
- Politics News
Charting new waters: Pheu Thai seeks to ‘amend’ fences with coalition partners
In a political drama unfolding at the heart of Thailand, the ruling Pheu Thai Party admitted it must mend fences with coalition allies to forge ahead with its ambitious blueprint for rewriting the nation’s charter. This revelation came courtesy of PM’s right-hand man, Somkid Chueakong, during the poignant commemoration of the October 14, 1973, uprising on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue. Somkid,…
- Thailand News
Bhumjaithai outlines six key policies for coalition government
Bhumjaithai Party Secretary-General Chaichanok Chidchob, along with the party’s executive committee, held a press conference at 5.30pm on Monday, September 2, to outline their stance on six pivotal policies. As a coalition government member, Bhumjaithai intends to propose these policies to the Pheu Thai Party. Chaichanok disclosed that the party’s focus includes enhancing social order and public safety. The proposed…
- Politics News
Coalition politics: UTNP sets conditions for Pheu Thai support
The United Thai Nation Party (UTNP) announced its support for the Pheu Thai Party’s next prime minister candidate, with one major caveat: no touching the lese majeste law. This stance from UTNP, led by Pirapan Salirathavibhaga—Thailand’s caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister—could have significant implications for the political landscape. During a press conference today, Pirapan expressed the UTNP’s allegiance…
- Thailand News
Power play: Thailand’s coalition leaders unite over dinner
Emerging from a high-profile dinner meeting at the Nai Lert Park Heritage Home, Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confidently asserted that the coalition now commands the unwavering support of over 314 MPs. The informal dinner, attended by core leaders of the 11 coalition parties, underscored the unity among the partners. The 62 year old Thai premier highlighted the solidarity within…
- Thailand News
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.…
- Thailand News
First coalition party dinner signals unity and relaxed political discourse
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin reported a warm atmosphere at the first coalition party dinner held on November 8, with no bargaining for political gains witnessed among the government parties. The dinner, hosted by the leading Pheu Thai Party, was attended by leaders of coalition parties and was deemed successful enough to warrant monthly repeats, as reported by Deputy Prime Minister…
- Thailand Election News
Pheu Thai party prepares for coalition meeting
In the latest political development, the Pheu Thai Party, one of the primary political entities in Thailand, plans a strategic meeting with its seven coalition partners next week. The primary focus of this meeting is to mull over the future direction of the eight-party coalition. Following this, they intend to update other parties outside of the bloc and opposition members.…
- Economy News
Thai coalition parties propose zero-based budgeting for efficiency
The implementation of zero-based budgeting (ZBB) has been proposed by the Move Forward Party (MFP) as part of a 23-point memorandum of understanding signed by eight political parties seeking to form a new coalition government. The MFP argues that the current budgeting system fails to address the public’s needs due to bureaucratic hurdles. ZBB requires state officials to justify expenses…
- Politics News
Thailand’s Democrats deny seeking to join Move Forward Party-led coalition
Prominent members of Thailand‘s Democrat Party dismissed claims that they are considering joining the coalition led by the Move Forward Party (MFP). These rumours emerged on Thursday night after the formation of a 10-party alliance, suggesting that a group of winning Democrat candidates close to acting party secretary-general Chalermchai Sri-on were seeking to approach the MFP and Pheu Thai to join…
- Cannabis News
Rejected cannabis bill causes strain amongst government coalitions
A recently-rejected cannabis bill has caused strains between government coalition partners, with its creating party blaming political motivations for its denial. The bill was introduced to the Thai House of Representatives but was shot down by a 198 to 136 vote. Critics of the bill point toward its loose wording, saying it could allow young people to use the drug…
- Politics News
Coalition of parties said to be plotting for PM Prayut’s removal
Members of some of the parliament’s smaller parties confirmed the existence of a rumoured plot brewed amongst a coalition of parties to unseat PM Prayut Chan-o-cha. The revelation and confirmation of this plot details the effort of several parties to come together and remove the Prime Minister from power. The New Palangdharma Party said that it will take a coalition…
- Politics News
Opposition calls for the Thai PM to stand down, Democrats re-iterate their support
Seizing the opportunity, Thailand’s opposition political parties are taking advantage of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s current poor standing amidst a crisis of high Covid infections and botched vaccine roll out. Opposition parties jointly issued a statement demanding the PM’s resignation. Among a list of general failures, they also accused PM Prayut of “causing irreversible damage to the nation”. The opposition bloc, led…
- Politics News
Rumours of a new coup “were pure nonsense” – Thai PM
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has scoffed at a range of rumours circulating in Thai media. Firstly he laughed off the reports of another military coup, telling a packed media conference yesterday that the rumours “were pure nonsense”. The ‘theory’ behind the rumour is that a staged coup d’état could help quash the rising tide of student and opposition protests. Thailand’s quasi…
- Politics News
Thai Government puts wheels in motion for constitutional reform
The coalition government has approved a motion that sets the stage for the 2017 Thai Constitution to be amended. A report in the Bangkok Post today says a 200 member panel is being formed to oversee the process. Members will include 150 elected writers, as well as senators and academics, while student representatives may nominate a further 50 members. It’s…
- Politics News
Ruling PP party denies coercing opposition parties to join
A source from the ruling Palang Pracharat party says that rumours that it was trying to “coerce and persuade” members of the opposition or current coalition member to join the party, were untrue. Over the past month, Thai politicians had been gossiping that the party has been allegedly syphoning cash from the 1.9 trillion baht “coronavirus relief fund” to recruit parliamentarians…
- Politics News
Thai PM will sit down with rebel members of coalition
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is again being forced to sit for chats with leaders of the 20 coalition parties to patch up differences ahead of a no-confidence debate being brought against the fragile government. The no-confidence debate is likely to happen early next month. Given the close numbers between the multi-party government and the opposition, a full quorum for the…
- Politics News
Government loses another MP as member heads to prison
Another blow to the ruling Palang Pracharath party and coalition after the MP for Kamphaeng Phet province, Pol Lt-Col Waipote Arpornrat, lost his Member of Parliament status after the Supreme Court upheld the 4 year prison sentence handed down by the Appeals Court for his involvement in the disruption of the ASEAN Summit in Pattaya back in 2009. As the…
- Politics News
MP formally breaks away from the coalition over Thammanat Prompao remarks
PHOTO: “Hello?! Did someone ask me something? Mr. Pichet Sathirachavan, leader of Prachatham Thai party, has formally announced they have decided to break away from the governing coalition to join the independent opposition camp with the New Civilized party. Yesterday PM Prayut Chan-o-cha covered one of his ears with his hand as he pretended not to hear one of many…
- Politics News
Coalition considers demoting clumsy deputy agriculture minister, Thammanat Prompow
Key members of Palang Pracharath are now discussing the future of deputy agriculture minister Thammanat Prompow’s as ‘fixer’ or coordinator of the coalition’s minor parties. The coalition’s smaller parties, some of them just single MPs, are in uproar following the controversial minister’s “monkey keeper” weekend remarks, potentially causing new rifts in the shaky coalition government. At the weekend the minister…
- Politics News
Thai coalition government may not last more than two years, experts caution
PHOTO: The Nation Economic concerns and doubts over the government’s legitimacy may mean it only maintains a grip on power for two years, according to academics. The situation is not helped by Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan being made chief strategist of the Phalang Pracharat party. According to Titipol Phakdeewanich, Dean of Ubon Ratchathani University’s Political Science faculty, this only…
- Politics News
Government faces no-confidence vote with loss of five independent MPs
The Government was sworn in less than a month ago on July 17, but already faces the prospect of a no confidence motion on its ability to control the lower house majority after five MPs pulled out of the 19-party coalition bloc. Last week the ruling Government lost a vote on the floor over the role of the House Speaker.…
- Politics News
Constitutional Court orders investigation of 32 MPs in media share row
The Thai Constitutional Court has agreed to accept a petition against 32 MPs from the military-aligned coalition over alleged media share holdings. But the Court has allowed the MPs to continue their parliamentary duties. This dispensation was not offered to anti-junta politician Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit from the opposition Future Forward Party who is being investigated over the same allegations. The court…
- Thailand Election News
Another week of negotiations and still no clear coalition emerges
PHOTO: The Nation – Palang Pracharat pose for a show of unity amongst complete turmoil Democrats walking out of meetings, deals made then broken days later, pending court cases over MPs’ eligibility – it’s never a dull day in Thai politics as we stumble towards a new parliament. Here are the current important milestones you need to know about… •…
- Thailand Election News
Democrats cancel meeting to decide if they will join coalition
The posturing between Democrats and Palang Pracharat continues as a call for key ministerial positions by the Democrats is being met with resistance. The Democrats are threatening to pull out of a potential coalition with Palang Pracharat after cancelling a meeting yesterday where members were to decide if they’d join the pro-army alliance. A Democrat source says that there is still…
- Thailand Election News
New Democrat leader may lean party away from pro-Army coalition
PHOTO: The Nation With a new leadership team heading up the Democrats, the focus is now on which way they will tip their MP seats in the formation of the new lower house in the Thai parliament. Whilst most pundits have thought they’d be leaning towards supporting the Palang Pracharath party (PPRP), who have current PM Prayut Chan-o-cha as their…
- Thailand Election News
Bhumjaithai’s Anutin says he won’t support a PM dependent on the senate vote
Anutin Charnvirakul, the Bhumjaithai leader, has made it clear that his party will not support a PM candidate who does have the backing from a simple majority of MPs in Parliament. Bhumjaithai, coming fifth in sheer MP numbers following the March 24 election (behind Pheu Thai, Palang Pracharat, Future Forward and the Democrats), has become a king-maker in the jockeying…
- Thailand Election News
Prawit plays down Senate appointees coming from NCPO and current cabinet
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has submitted a list of 250 senators to His Majesty the King, while Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan has commented that a new government won’t be set up until after a new PM has been named. This news is coming from the National News Bureau of Thailand and should be read in light of the source. The…
- Thailand Election News
And then there was three – a new bloc emerges from the political number-crunching
PHOTO: The latest political weapon – an adding machine A third possible bloc is emerging as the phones run hot with major parties trying to persuade the smaller parties and solo MPs to side with them. The magic number is 251 seats to form a workable majority coalition. Any fewer than 250 will mean they risk being defeated on any…
- Thailand Election News
New Economics Party clarifies their support for pro-democracy coalition
PHOTO: Mingkwan Sangsuwan, New Economics Party leader – The Nation Leader of the New Economics Party Mingkwan Sangsuwan hasy reiterated his party’s intention to join with the pro-democracy coalition (Pheu Thai, Future Forward) and against the pro-junta party, Phalang Pracharat. Amid uncertainty over which camp New Economics would work with after the election, Mingkwan has clarified he would not join…
- Thailand Election News
Pro-democracy coalition remains positive following weekend glitch
by Kai Chanwanpen The see-saw continues as the anti and pro-junta groups continue to tussle to form a coalition government. Meanwhile the Election Commission (EC) is no closer to announcing the allocation of Lower House seats… three weeks after the vote! They maintain that May 9 is the day they will announce the results although this deadline has been muddied…
