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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Public backlash erupts over ECT mistakes in advance voting
Public criticism mounted against officials from the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) following a series of mistakes reported during Thailand’s advanced voting yesterday, February 1. The ECT scheduled February 1 for advance voting ahead of the official General Election on February 8. It is designed to allow eligible Thai citizens who live outside their registered home provinces, or who are…
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Astrologer predicts Thailand’s next prime minister for 2026 Election
Astrological prediction becomes especially compelling when applied to unprecedented political situations, particularly when forecasts must be made before an actual term of office begins. According to JD Mukkarji, a scientific astrologer residing in Bangkok, unlike recurring events such as annual or biennial sports tournaments, where patterns are relatively easier to track, political transitions often lack predictable cycles. Events that occur…
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Cobra Gold 2026 brings over 8,000 troops to Thailand
Thailand is set to host the 45th annual Cobra Gold military exercise from February 24 to March 6, bringing together more than 8,000 personnel from 30 countries in one of the region’s largest joint defence operations. The multinational exercise, co-hosted by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (US PACOM), will take place across several locations…
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Ruangkrai challenges Mongkolkit’s four husbands policy
Today, January 22, Thai political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana has asked the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) to investigate whether a campaign policy proposed by Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, suggesting women be allowed to have up to four husbands, violates Thailand’s election laws. Ruangkrai, a parliamentary candidate running in Bangkok’s Constituency 4 with the Palang Pracharath Party, revealed that he had sent a…
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How Italian-Thai Development became Thailand’s most controversial construction company
At 9.13 on the morning of 14 January, passengers on a north-eastern-bound train in Nakhon Ratchasima province heard a sound like tearing metal. Above them, a massive steel crane used to lift concrete spans for an elevated high-speed rail line had begun to fall. The launching gantry, weighing several tonnes, crashed onto the last two carriages, derailing them and igniting…
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Thailand considers invitation to join US-led Gaza peace board
Thailand is reviewing an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join a proposed international ‘Board of Peace’ aimed at resolving the conflict in Gaza, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, January 19. The initiative, part of Trump’s proposed Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, outlines the creation of a peace board initially focused on Gaza, with…
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Former PM Thaksin may be released on parole in May
The former Prime Minister (PM) of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, may be eligible for release on parole in May, according to the Department of Corrections. Thaksin returned to Thailand in August and was taken into custody before being transferred to the 14th floor of the Police General Hospital under special detention arrangements. His hospital stay triggered widespread public debate, with critics…
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China steps in with 90 million baht aid after Thai train tragedy
China has reaffirmed its close diplomatic ties with Thailand today, January 15, by donating 20 million yuan, approximately 90 million baht, in humanitarian aid, in the wake of a crane collapse at a high-speed rail construction site. At 11am today, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jianwei met with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at the Government House to formally deliver the assistance. The…
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Thailand’s conservative parties push back on charter rewrite
Yesterday, January 14, three of Thailand’s conservative political parties reaffirmed their opposition to replacing the current constitution, warning that the move could be costly and politically risky. Key figures from the Rak Chart Thai Party, Thai Pakdee Party, and the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party voiced their stance during campaign activities in Nakhon Ratchasima and Surat Thani, stating they would…
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People’s Party MP candidate arrested over alleged online gambling links
Police arrested a Member of Parliament (MP) candidate from the People’s Party yesterday, January 14, at his home in Bangkok over alleged involvement in an online gambling network and money laundering. Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) raided the residence of 32 year old Ratchapong “Pond” Soisuwan at around 5.30pm. The property is located in Nuan Chan Village,…
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Thailand among 75 nations hit by US visa processing suspension
The United States will temporarily suspend immigrant visa processing for Thailand and 74 other countries, effective January 21, 2026, as part of tighter immigration screening under its America First policy, the US State Department announced on January 14. The immigration visa freeze targets applicants from countries where migrants are said to disproportionately rely on public assistance after settling in the…
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SHIELD system unveiled at Thai-led trafficking talks with 18 nations
Thai police have intensified international efforts against human trafficking and cyber scams after officials from 18 countries met in Bangkok yesterday, January 13, to discuss cooperation, data sharing, and tools to tackle transnational crime. The high-level meeting took place at the Royal Thai Police headquarters and was chaired by Police General Thatchai Pitaneelabutr, deputy national police chief and director of…
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Thai forces intercept 37 Cambodian migrants hidden in truck
Thai forces intercepted a truck carrying 37 undocumented Cambodian nationals in Sa Kaeo province late last night, January 8, after uncovering a smuggling operation that used foam sheets to hide migrants inside a six-wheel lorry. The arrest took place around 11.30pm in Aranyaprathet district, when a joint task force patrolling the Ban Dong Ngu–Ban Pa Rai road signalled a suspicious…
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RTAF explains Thai-Cambodian border actions to 22 countries
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) briefed foreign military attaché assistants from 22 countries today, January 9, regarding recent military operations along the Thai-Cambodian border, reaffirming its commitment to restraint and civilian safety. The session, held by Air Chief Marshal Sakesan Kantha, Commander-in-Chief of the RTAF, aimed to clarify Thailand’s position and ensure transparency about its air operations near the…
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Pheu Thai pledges to top up income to 3,000 Baht for vulnerable Thais
BANGKOK – Pheu Thai Party has officially declared a “War on Poverty,” promising a new income guarantee scheme that ensures every Thai citizen earns at least 3,000 Baht per month. On the evening of January 8, Prof. Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate, unveiled the policy during a major rally at Lan Khon Muang in front of Bangkok…
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Cambodia denies Thai claims of harsh airport screening
A Cambodian aviation official yesterday, January 7, dismissed Thai media claims that Thai travellers faced harsh screening at Phnom Penh’s Techo Airport, calling the reports false and unreflective of the country’s hospitality. Sin Chanserivutha, spokesperson for Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, clarified that Thai nationals leaving Cambodia with verified travel histories would not face additional questioning. He said only…
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Abhisit campaigns in Nakhon Si Thammarat with policy pitch
Abhisit Vejjajiva hit the campaign trail in Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday, urging voters to back the Democrat Party as it fights to win back support in one of its long‑standing strongholds. The Democrat Party campaign team visited the Thewada fresh market in Sichon district, where Abhisit was joined by party executives and local figures to rally support for Chanwatthana…
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Thai nurse blames leading politician for jail term and loss of unborn child
A Thai nurse accused a deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party of causing her to be imprisoned, an ordeal she claimed ultimately led to the loss of her unborn child. The allegation emerged after the Facebook page CSI LA shared leaked audio yesterday, January 5, of a conversation between the nurse and the politician. According to the page, the…
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Thai Army warns Cambodia after mortar lands in Ubon Ratchathani
Thailand’s army issued a warning to Cambodian authorities today, January 6, after a mortar round landed inside Thai territory in Ubon Ratchathani province, injuring a soldier and raising concerns over a potential ceasefire breach. According to Army spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree, the incident occurred at around 7.40am on Hill 469 in Nam Yuen district, close to the Thai-Cambodian border.…
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PM candidate sparks controversy after claim to buy 10 nuclear warheads
A prime ministerial candidate from the New Alternative Party sparked online controversy after claiming he would acquire up to 10 nuclear warheads to strengthen Thailand’s security against global powers. As the General Election approaches in February, the party’s PM candidate Mongkolkit Suksintharanon promoted one of his security policies on Facebook yesterday, January 5. In the post, Mongkolkit wrote… “Nuclear weapon costs…
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Cambodia allows 162 Thais to return, 6 wanted by police
Cambodia allowed 162 Thai nationals to return to Thailand through a border checkpoint in Chanthaburi province on Saturday, January 3, with six of them later found to be wanted criminals. Cambodian authorities reportedly pushed back hundreds of Thai workers who had been stranded in the country, sending them home via the Chanthaburi border following a ceasefire. According to Channel 7,…
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Thailand calls for restraint amid US-Venezuela tensions
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday, January 4, issued a statement calling for restraint amid escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela. The US launched a military strike across northern Venezuela on Saturday, January 3, under an operation named Operation Absolute Resolve. During the raid, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured following allegations that…
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Thailand human trafficking police crackdown overview
The Royal Thai Police have announced an intensified nationwide crackdown on human trafficking, with a renewed focus on child sexual abuse, exploitation within the fishing industry, and crimes committed through online platforms. Authorities say the move comes in response to a rising number of cases and increasingly complex criminal methods, particularly those involving children and digital networks. Police General Thatchai…
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Thai Cambodian border dispute: army reaffirms sovereignty
The Royal Thai Army has reaffirmed that a recently reorganized border area remains firmly within Thai sovereign territory, stating that the land has been subject to long-term encroachment by Cambodian forces and settlements. Army officials are urging the public to review official protest letters previously submitted by Thailand through the Memorandum of Understanding 43, known as MOU 43, which governs…
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Will Thailand’s 2026 election reshape tourism, foreign investment, and transport policy?
As Thailand moves toward its 2026 general election, the future of the country’s tourism industry has become a central issue for investors, operators, and local communities. With tourism accounting for a significant share of national income, the policies adopted by the next government are expected to influence foreign direct investment, public safety, and long-term infrastructure planning, particularly in rail transport.…
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Thai politician’s daughter sues actor in first case under new sex crime law
Thai actor and singer Pakorn Lam, better known as Dome, is facing a lawsuit after his sexual harassing comment under the picture of the daughter of a leading Thai politician, making the case the first legal action brought under Thailand’s newly enforced sex crime laws. The victim is Yossuda “Jinny” Leelapanyalert, the daughter of prominent female politician Sudarat Keyuraphan. Jinny…
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Thai PM candidate defends sea prison plan amid ‘Azkaban’ mockery
A prime ministerial candidate from the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) insisted that the party’s proposal to build a sea prison for influential criminals is not a fantasy, after online users mocked the idea and compared it to Azkaban prison from the Harry Potter series. Following the dissolution of parliament on December 11, Thailand is now heading towards a General…
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Thai and Cambodian diplomats meet in China to reinforce ceasefire and border stability
Top diplomats from Thailand and Cambodia met in China on Sunday for high-level talks aimed at reinforcing a fragile ceasefire and preventing a return to fighting along their disputed border, as Beijing steps up its role as a regional mediator. The meetings follow the signing of a new ceasefire agreement intended to halt weeks of clashes that have killed more…
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People’s Party MP candidate arrested in drug money laundering probe, denies involvement
A parliamentary candidate from the People’s Party was arrested on Monday morning in connection with an ongoing investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering network, according to officials from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau. At approximately 10:45 a.m. on December 29, 2025, officers from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau detained Mr. Boonrit Raorungroj, also known as Bank, at his residence…
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Thailand Clarifies with Q&A about 72-Hour Ceasefire With Cambodia as Border Tensions Ease
The Thai government has released a detailed public explanation of the 72-hour ceasefire agreed upon with Cambodia, as authorities continue to monitor border conditions and prepare for possible next steps. On December 28, the Joint Press Center for the Thai-Cambodian Border Situation issued a comprehensive Question and Answer document addressing public concerns surrounding the temporary ceasefire. The clarification follows heightened…
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