election

  • Thailand Election NewsDeputy PM promises ‘no coup’ after the election
    ThaigerFriday, March 22, 2019
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    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
    ThaigerSaturday, February 16, 2019
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    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
    ThaigerThursday, February 14, 2019
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    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 NewsEC meets tomorrow to discuss Thai Raksa Chart’s controversial PM nomination
    ThaigerSunday, February 10, 2019
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    EC meets tomorrow to discuss Thai Raksa Chart’s controversial PM nomination

    The Election Commission is expected to meet tomorrow (Monday) to deliberate the Thai Raksa Chart party’s future following their nomination of Princess Ubolratana as a prime ministerial candidate in the March 24 election. But the EC’s secretary-general, Jarungvith Phumma, has declined to comment on the matter when asked about the party’s surprise Friday PM candidate, saying only that “all issues would…

  • Thailand Election News“Compassion for the people” Thai Raksa Chart of Princess Ubolratana
    ThaigerFriday, February 8, 2019
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    “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…

  • Thailand Election NewsPrincess Ubolratana running for the March 24 Thai election
    ThaigerFriday, February 8, 2019
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    Princess Ubolratana running for the March 24 Thai election

    The Thai Raksa Chart Party has thrown Thai politics into chaos after it nominated Princess Ubolratana Mahidol as its candidate as prime minister. The princess is His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s elder sister. Thai Raksa Chart Party nominated Princess Ubolratana as its candidate to be prime minister this morning. Today is the final day for political parties to announce candidates and…

  • Thailand NewsPrayut says he’s still waiting for an invitation to join a party for the election
    ThaigerTuesday, January 29, 2019
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    Prayut says he’s still waiting for an invitation to join a party for the election

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha says he won’t be reshuffling his cabinet following the resignations of four ministers who are core members of the pro-junta Palang Pracharat party. And he declared that he will seek to return to power only through election. He also openly ruled out the possibility of exploiting the provisional clauses in the Constitution to be re-appointed PM…

  • Thailand NewsPalang Pracharat to nominate Prayut as candidate for PM after election
    ThaigerFriday, January 25, 2019
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    Palang Pracharat to nominate Prayut as candidate for PM after election

    The pro-junta leaning Palang Pracharat Party is poised to name Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as its candidate for PM if it can win a majority at the March 24 general election. This revelation from a Palang Pracharat party source as reported by The Nation. The current junta government’s Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana and Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak are also likely to…

  • Thailand News“March 24, most appropriate date for election” – Election Commission
    ThaigerThursday, January 24, 2019
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    “March 24, most appropriate date for election” – Election Commission

    PHOTO: Election Commissioner Ittiporn Boonpracong The Election Commission finally announced a date for the long-awaited election. The poll will be held on March 24, but the EC did not indicate if the official results will be declared before May 9. The situation raises potential legal concerns with the timeframe set by the Constitution. Hours after the Royal Decree on the…

  • Thailand NewsHere we go – Royal decree issued for Thai general election
    ThaigerWednesday, January 23, 2019
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    Here we go – Royal decree issued for Thai general election

    The final hurdle to holding an election this year was cleared this morning by royal decree that sets in motion the countdown to the long-awaited poll. The royal decree, ordering a general election of members of Parliament was issued this morning. The constitutional process calls for the Election Commission to announce a date for the long-awaited election within five days…

  • Thailand NewsWhy Thailand’s election will be a win for the military – International coverage
    ThaigerTuesday, January 22, 2019
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    Why Thailand’s election will be a win for the military – International coverage

    “When Thailand officials hinted that scheduled elections to end military rule would be postponed for the fifth time in almost as many years, anger and frustration rippled through the country.” The story of Thailand’s election stumbles and rumbles is making headlines around the world, especially since the February 24 election date, mooted as THE date for most of 2018, has…

  • Thailand NewsPick a date, any date – Thai election
    ThaigerFriday, January 18, 2019
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    Pick a date, any date – Thai election

    February 24, then March 10, then ‘sometime before May 7’, now March 24. The only thing we can be reasonably sure about is that it will be on a Sunday (Thai elections are always held on Sundays). Yesterday, Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam hinted that the election could now be held on March 24. He painted March 24 as the “most…

  • Thailand NewsPM Prayut kicks the election can down the road
    ThaigerWednesday, January 16, 2019
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    PM Prayut kicks the election can down the road

    PHOTO: The Nation February 24? No. March? April? Maybe May? PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has reaffirmed today that election will definitely be held by May 9 but gave no indication when exactly it will take place. It’s the first time he’s ever uttered an actual date. He says that under the new Thai Constitution, May 9 is the final date election…

  • Thailand NewsArmy chief claims election delay critics are “bent on creating trouble”
    ThaigerSunday, January 13, 2019
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    Army chief claims election delay critics are “bent on creating trouble”

    In a country where the Army has played such a prominent part in the politics of Thailand for so long, we shouldn’t be surprised by commentary today from the Thai Army Commander-in-Chief. General Apirat Kongsompong says that those campaigning against the election delay have a “one-track mind and bent on creating troubles”. “They are being told to think this way,…

  • Thailand NewsSocial media the key in the run up to the 2019 election
    ThaigerSaturday, January 12, 2019
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    Social media the key in the run up to the 2019 election

    “Newspapers, once the beneficiary of political advertising, will now be side-lined in favor of targeted social media in the lead up to this year’s election.” by Asina Pownwasin Your social media platforms are about to be filled with banter, arguments and lots of advertising. The topic? The forthcoming Thai election (when a date is eventually announced). For the first time…

  • Thailand NewsThai Interior Affairs ministry confirms memo ‘halting election preparations’ is genuine
    ThaigerThursday, January 10, 2019
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    Thai Interior Affairs ministry confirms memo ‘halting election preparations’ is genuine

    PHOTO: South China Morning Post A leaked memo on social media, addressed to election officials in every province, to halt election preparations has now been confirmed to be genuine by the interior affairs Minister. The internal memo called for “all preparations for election are hereby halted” in absence of the Royal Decree, which was expected around New Year’s Day, but…

  • Thailand NewsElection Commission throws onus for election date back on Government
    ThaigerSaturday, January 5, 2019
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    Election Commission throws onus for election date back on Government

    The Election Commission is throwing the ball back into government’s court, saying it can only set an election date after the government formally issues the Royal Decree announcing an election date. Over the past year the date of February has firmed, been confirmed by numerous Government officials, including the PM and his Deputies. The Election Commision president Ittiporn Boonpracong made…

  • Thailand NewsDeputy PM throws doubt on election date
    ThaigerFriday, January 4, 2019
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    Deputy PM throws doubt on election date

    by Chanwanpen and Somroutai Sapsomboon The NCPO has throw a curved ball at the Election Commission, placing the onus on the Commission’s committee to decide the date of the general election whilst taking into account the preparations for the royal coronation ceremony. There’s also been suggestions of a month’s delay from the election’s tentative date of February 24. Deputy PM…

  • Thailand NewsTwo key tests for the Land of Smiles in 2019
    ThaigerWednesday, January 2, 2019
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    Two key tests for the Land of Smiles in 2019

    Thailand faces two major challenges in 2019 – conducting a general election and chairing the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN). Mishandling either task would invite serious damage to both the country and the wider region, according to a New Year editorial in The Nation. “Junta chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha has made a bad start in tackling the first challenge,…

  • Thailand News“Prayut unfit to be the PM” – ex Cabinet colleague
    ThaigerTuesday, December 25, 2018
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    “Prayut unfit to be the PM” – ex Cabinet colleague

    The Thai PM and the recently formed pro-junta political party are on the defensive as the chains are off other parties criticising them in the lead up to next year’s election. A Government Spokesman, Buddhipong Punnakanta, has been wheeled out to speak to the media over the allegations made by a former Cabinet member citing the Junta chief’s indecisiveness, aggressiveness…

  • Bangkok NewsTourism Authority denies spending 9 million at political fundraiser
    ThaigerFriday, December 21, 2018
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    Tourism Authority denies spending 9 million at political fundraiser

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is rejecting a report that it spent 9 million baht on banquet tables at a pro-Junta fundraising dinner on Wednesday night. TAT director Yuthasak Supakorn claims the agency had nothing to do with the dinner and TAT might take legal action against those reporting the false news for defaming the agency. “It was TAT’s…

  • Bangkok NewsJunta supporters, Palang Pracharat party, raises 650 million baht at banquet
    ThaigerThursday, December 20, 2018
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    Junta supporters, Palang Pracharat party, raises 650 million baht at banquet

    The pro-military Palang Pracharat party had the first of their big fund-raisers last night and raised an estimated 650 million baht – 50 million baht more than their initial projection. The banquet was held last night at the Impact Muang Thong Thanee convention hall. Almost 2,000 guests, mostly business people and politicians from different parties, attended the event to fill…

  • Bangkok NewsPolitical parties throwing extravagant dinners to raise election funds
    ThaigerWednesday, December 19, 2018
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    Political parties throwing extravagant dinners to raise election funds

    The pro-Junta Palang Pracharat political party is expecting to raise 600 million baht from a grand fund-raising dinner named “One Thailand”. The event will be held tonight at Muang Thong Thanee in Bangkok. The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) appears to be winning over business leaders and the elite after selling most of the tables for tonight’s event. The event will…

  • Thailand News“The Election Commission can decide” – PM on foreign observers for election
    ThaigerTuesday, December 18, 2018
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    “The Election Commission can decide” – PM on foreign observers for election

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is making it clear that the Election Commission (EC) are the sole authority to decide whether or not to allow foreign observers to monitor the election scheduled for February 24, 2019. But, Gen Prayut insisted that Thailand must solve its own internal problems to ensure transparency and fairness in order to restore international community’s confidence in…

  • Thailand NewsBlood is thicker than water. But not always in Thai politics.
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    Blood is thicker than water. But not always in Thai politics.

    PHOTOS: The Nation, Thai PBS The Juangroongruangkit family may share genes and parts of the family empire. But there’s one thing they can’t agree on. Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the young and charismatic leader of the new Future Forward party, has tow members of his immediate family show have teamed up with the pro-government Palang Pracharat party. In an interview, Thanathorn says he regretted…

  • Thailand NewsPM comes under attack after political bans lifted
    ThaigerFriday, December 14, 2018
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    PM comes under attack after political bans lifted

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha and his governmental coming under attack from politicians taking advantage of the junta’s lifting of political restrictions. The ban was officially lifted on Tuesday allowing commentary about politics, including criticism of other politicians and parties. Most of the parties who have been speaking up so far are linked to fugitive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin has…

  • Thailand NewsPolitical ban lifted ahead of February 24 election
    ThaigerTuesday, December 11, 2018
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    Political ban lifted ahead of February 24 election

    The Thai Junta, aka NCPO, has today lifted restrictions on political activities that have been in effect since the May 2014 military coup. The Nation reports the the lifts a previous prohibition on political parties holding meetings or organising political activities. The cancelled restrictions include the ban on political gatherings of five or more people. The Royal Gazette has published…

  • Thailand News“Post-poll government will lack legitimacy”
    ThaigerTuesday, December 11, 2018
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    “Post-poll government will lack legitimacy”

    “…the junta government was now trying to buy votes using populist schemes, such as handing out cash as New Year gifts to low-income earners.” A former student activist and renowned scholar Thirayuth Boonmee has predicted that though junta leader General Prayut Chan-o-cha will be able to form the next government, it will lack legitimacy and this will only lead to…

  • Thailand NewsElection date confirmed for February 24 next year
    ThaigerSaturday, December 8, 2018
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    Election date confirmed for February 24 next year

    PHOTO: Deputy PM Wissanu Kreangam arrives at the Army Club in Bangkok – The Nation Make it a date. February 24 is now the official date of the next Thai general election. The poll date has now been confirmed after years of delays, mis-starts and excuses. The NCPO has now announced that the ban on political activities will be lifted…

  • Thailand NewsPolitical parties boycotting todays meeting are ‘trouble makers’
    ThaigerFriday, December 7, 2018
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    Political parties boycotting todays meeting are ‘trouble makers’

    Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan, who is also defence minister and luxury watch enthusiast, says that parties boycotting today’s meeting were troublemakers. Meanwhile, the Thai PM claims the missing political parties were like boxers who refused to abide by the rules of the fight and would not listen to the referee’s explanations. But political scientist says this only points to the…