election

  • Thailand Election NewsFuture Forward’s Thanathorn says he’s confident he will be endorsed as an MP

    Future Forward’s Thanathorn says he’s confident he will be endorsed as an MP

    Thanathorn had prepared some 27 items of evidence to prove to the poll authority that he had divested his media shares on January 8, well before he registered to run in the election that took place a month later. A defiant Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit emerged from yesterday’s marathon ‘chat’ with the Election Commission over charges he still owned…

  • Thailand Election NewsThanathorn says other MPs now in the firing line, including from Phalang Pracharat

    Thanathorn says other MPs now in the firing line, including from Phalang Pracharat

    PHOTO: Future Forward’s Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit emerges defiant after spending six hours with the EC yesterday – The Nation by Kas Chanwanpen The political tactics of going after Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and other party members for alleged shareholdings in media companies, could come back to haunt the pro-junta camp after a similar allegation was made against one of its…

  • Thailand Election NewsThanathorn says he’s confident he won’t be penalised by the EC

    Thanathorn says he’s confident he won’t be penalised by the EC

    Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the leader of Future Forward Party, says he’s confident he won’t be penalised by the Election Commission over allegations he breached the Constitution and the election by holding shares in a media company, V Luck Media, when registering for the March 24 election. Thanathorn says he will submit his defence with the commission by next Monday and insists on…

  • Thailand Election NewsThanathorn faces more charges from EC over media shares

    Thanathorn faces more charges from EC over media shares

    Future Forward’s Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the 40 year old leader of the new party, has cut short his trip to Europe over an ‘unexpected incident’ The Thai Election Commission yesterday unanimously resolved to press charges against Thanathorn over an alleged violation of Thai media shareholding rules. Citing investigations by two EC panels, Sawang Boonmee, the EC deputy secretary-general, told a press…

  • Thailand Election NewsPro-democracy coalition remains positive following weekend glitch

    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…

  • Thailand Election News“We have sufficient evidence against Thanathorn” – Police

    “We have sufficient evidence against Thanathorn” – Police

    Deputy national police chief says that police likely have sufficient evidence to support the sedition charge filed against Future Forward’s Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. Future Forward eclipsed even their own projections with a surprising performance on the Mach 24 election, coming in a close third behind the heavyweights Pheu Thai and Palang Pracharat, at the expense of the Democrats. Thai PBS reports…

  • Thailand Election NewsFormer EC Commissioner says ‘Give seats to smaller parties’

    Former EC Commissioner says ‘Give seats to smaller parties’

    A former Constitution Drafting Commission member, Praphan Naikovit, once a member of the Election Commission, met with election commissioners yesterday to discuss the formula that should be used to determine the number of MPs following an extensive debate on the interpretation of laws and formula. He says there is just one formula to calculate the number of party-list MPs in…

  • Thailand Election NewsArmy chief steps into the political fray again

    Army chief steps into the political fray again

    PHOTO: Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong against a snappy hot pink backdrop by Supalak Ganjanakhundee Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong’s provocative comments against foreign-educated politicians with ‘leftist leanings’ and activists is a threat to democracy, and could lead to social unrest, violence and even collapse of the regime… warnings from prominent Thai scholars and rights defenders yesterday. The comments follow…

  • Thailand Election NewsThe EC’s magic formulae. Thais want to know how it all works.

    The EC’s magic formulae. Thais want to know how it all works.

    by Kas Chanwanpen More confusion today, nine days after after the national ballot, as multiple formulae have been cited to come up with a tally on the number of MPs each party would have. Meanwhile, authorities appear reluctant to clear the air. Political scientist Stithorn Thananithichot warns that this confusion could lead to lawsuits which will further complicate post-poll politics.…

  • Thailand Election NewsPoll shows Thais are wary about the new government’s potential to end conflict

    Poll shows Thais are wary about the new government’s potential to end conflict

    A new Suan Dusit Poll shows 31.8% of the respondents believe that the political situation will worsen due to the lack of stability of the new government while 28.1% are more optimistic. Most Thais believe the new government, be it led by Palang Pracharat or Pheu Thai, will not be able to end political division that have lasted almost two decades. The opinion poll sampled 1,752 people across the country. Nearly half said that…

  • Thailand Election News“No need to join coalition government” – Democrat politician

    “No need to join coalition government” – Democrat politician

    PHOTO: Facebook/Parit Wacharasindhu With around 55 seats won after Sunday’s election, the Democrats are one of a few political parties which will hold the balance of power. They will be able to choose between joining an alliance with a Pheu Thai-led bloc or siding with the Phalang Pracharat-led camp. But Parit Wacharasindhu, a new generation Democrat Party member, says he…

  • Thailand Election NewsDemocrat’s 50 parliamentary seats up for grabs

    Democrat’s 50 parliamentary seats up for grabs

    The Democrat Party is hedging their bets at the moment with differing views among the remnant of the political party as to where they should throw their support in the new parliament. Yesterday they were juggling their options, as both Pheu Thai and Phalang Pracharat claimed legitimacy to form the next government. Senior Democrat politician Thaworn Senneam, who won the…

  • Thailand Election NewsCount continues amid surging complaints

    Count continues amid surging complaints

    Four days after the national election and we are still no closer to knowing the ‘winner’ as the county’s Election Commission continues the counting of the remainder of the votes amid accusations of delays and mishandling of ballots in some locations. 95% of the voting has now been completed. The EC says that the results after counting the remaining 5%…

  • Thailand Election NewsDeputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam disses Pheu Thai ‘coalition’

    Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam disses Pheu Thai ‘coalition’

    “The final seat tally is subject to change since the commission has only announced 95 per cent of the voting results.” Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam has called Wednesday’s announcement of a Pheu Thai-led coalition preparing to form a government merely psychological strategy that will not bear fruit. “The truth will be known after May 9 when the Election Commission endorses…

  • Thailand Election NewsAnti-Junta bloc announces coalition with at least 255 seats

    Anti-Junta bloc announces coalition with at least 255 seats

    by Kas Chanwanpen The Pheu Thai Party’s de facto leader Sudarat Keyuraphan has announced this morning that an ‘anti-junta’ bloc had mustered at least 255 MPs from seven parties to form a coalition government. She said their shared aim was to stop the military junta from retaining power. She also said that negotiations are still underway for more parties to…

  • Thailand Election NewsSix parties poised to announce coalition government at 10am

    Six parties poised to announce coalition government at 10am

    Six pro-democracy parties, led by Pheu Thai, are announcing their intention to form a coalition government this morning. The number-crunchers say, even without the support of BumJaiThai and the Democrats, they have 252 house seats to form a majority government (they need at least 251 seats in the 500 seat parliament). The parties siding with Pheu Thai to form the…

  • Thailand Election NewsParties race to cobble together a working coalition

    Parties race to cobble together a working coalition

    Day Two following the election and the only thing that is clear is that nothing is clear at this stage. Pheu Thai and Phalang Pracharat are both claiming the right to form a government with support of like-minded parties. The two rival parties, the pro-democracy Pheu Thai and the pro-Junta Phalang Pracharat, are locked in a close battle to form…

  • Northern Thailand NewsThaksin: Election rigged with many irregularities

    Thaksin: Election rigged with many irregularities

    Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra told Agence France-Presse yesterday that Thailand’s election was marred by “irregularities” and “rigged”. He says the military rigged the election system to retain their political grip on the kingdom. “Everyone knows in Thailand, everyone international that observed the election in Thailand, knows that(there is irregularities,” he told AFP in English. “What we call, we should call,…

  • Thailand Election NewsPolice checking 50, mostly, minor violations post election day

    Police checking 50, mostly, minor violations post election day

    Police around Thailand are prosecuting 50 alleged violations of election laws and continue to monitor the post-poll situation for further signs of potential trouble. The Royal Thai Police say they’re on alert for ‘ill-intentioned groups’ fomenting post-election chaos, national police deputy spokesman Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen said this morning. The 50 cases under investigation include buying votes, deliberate destruction of ballots…

  • Thailand Election NewsUPDATE: Latest poll results, Monday 11am

    UPDATE: Latest poll results, Monday 11am

    RESULTS: Election Commission Updated poll results as of 11am this morning. The latest votes reveal some changes in the total seats each party has now won. There are also some changes to the wins of the small parties. Pheu Thai continues to pull ahead, Future Forward continues its very impressive showing as a brand new party and the Democrats, with their…

  • Thailand Election NewsUPDATE: Election results – what it all means

    UPDATE: Election results – what it all means

    The Election Commission says the official results of the Thai general election will be announced today. By the close of counting last night around 92% of the votes had been counted. The bleary-eyed commission decided to delay the announcement until this afternoon. The EC chairman says the announcement of winners in each constituency had to be deferred because expat’ votes…

  • Thailand Election NewsReports of vote tampering will be investigated by police

    Reports of vote tampering will be investigated by police

    A leading international polling monitoring organisation claims it’s not confident there wasn’t any tampering in yesterday’s election at polling booths. The vice president of People’s Election Network listed a number of election irregularities reported by some of their volunteer observer network raising doubts about the Election Commission’s efficiency. They say they had 600 observers out amongst polling booths throughout the…

  • Thailand Election NewsCounting continues today. Phalang Pracharat and Pheu Thai lead the way.

    Counting continues today. Phalang Pracharat and Pheu Thai lead the way.

    Pheu Thai and Phalang Pracharat were running neck-and-neck last night as ballots were counted around the country. The major parties swapped poll position as the night went on. As of 10.30pm, with 92 per cent of the votes counted, the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat appeared to have beaten Pheu Thai with a total of 147 seats – 92 constituency MPs and…

  • Thailand Election NewsExit poll says Pheu Thai will get most votes but not a majority

    Exit poll says Pheu Thai will get most votes but not a majority

    The polls are closed, the ballot boxes secured and the counting starts. Time now for the fancy TV graphics and speculation as Thailand’s next government takes shape in the next 24-48 hours. No party is expected to win a majority of the seats so a coalition will need to be formed. That’s where the fun will start. Pheu Thai is…

  • Thailand Election NewsEverything you need to know about tomorrow’s vote

    Everything you need to know about tomorrow’s vote

    by Kanjana Lao, Nation Graphics Seven million new eligible voters will impact the outcome of tomorrow’s election, the first since 2011. The many new young voters, and the new election system, means that an outcome is very difficult to predict. But here’s Thai Election 2019 1.01 for newbies, thanks to The Nation.

  • Thailand Election NewsDeputy PM promises ‘no coup’ after the election

    Deputy PM promises ‘no coup’ after the election

    Thailand’s Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan is hosing down speculation that there could be another coup after the March 24 general election if the votes don’t support the pro-military parties. Responding to questions about his role in maintaining peace and order around this Sunday’s election, General Prawit says there is “nothing to worry about”, including the situation in the three southernmost provinces of Yala,…

  • Thailand Election NewsVoters like Prayut as PM but prefer Pheu Thai as the party they will vote for

    Voters like Prayut as PM but prefer Pheu Thai as the party they will vote for

    With the election campaign now digging into its first week on the hustings, the polls are starting to indicate where the early poll sentiments are leaning. Thai PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is the favourite for the prime minster’s position following the election, but Pheu Thai is the party people want to see lead the formation of the new government, according…

  • Thailand Election NewsConstitutional Court meets today to rule on future of Thai Raksa Chart

    Constitutional Court meets today to rule on future of Thai Raksa Chart

    PHOTO: Thai Raksa Chart party leader Preechaphol Pongpanit awaits the decision of the Constitutional Court today whether to proceed with the case to disband the party The Constitutional Court is meeting today to decide whether or not to consider the request of the Election Commission to have the Thai Raksa Chart Party dissolved for breaching the political parties act. The…

  • Thailand Election NewsElection 2019: A challenge to the Princess’ nomination

    Election 2019: A challenge to the Princess’ nomination

    PHOTO: The announcement this morning by the Thai Raksa Chart Party threw a political bombshell into the campaign – The Nation A leader of the People’s Reform Party has put in an urgent request for the Election Commission to rule whether the nomination of His Majesty the King’s eldest sister as a candidate for prime minister in the forthcoming election…

  • Thailand Election News“Compassion for the people” Thai Raksa Chart of Princess Ubolratana

    “Compassion for the people” Thai Raksa Chart of Princess Ubolratana

    The sister of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn is now seen as a leading prime ministerial candidate for a political party loyal to fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra in the March 24 elections. The Thai Raksa Chart party dropped the political bombshell this morning. 67 year old Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Varnavadi broke a long-standing tradition of Thai royalty staying out of…