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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Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Indian Parliament: Security breach sees teacher arrested (video)
Indian authorities have apprehended a man described as the key accused in the recent Parliament security breach that shocked the nation. Lalit Jha, a teacher who dramatically surrendered to the police in Delhi on December 14, marking a significant development in the unfolding scandal. The security breach, which occurred on the 22nd anniversary of a deadly militant attack on the…
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Thailand’s path to net-zero: 6 mega-trends to combat carbon missions
Renewable energy, electric vehicles, hydrogen, and the circular economy are the knights in shining armour, charging into the battleground of carbon emissions, claims Melissa Moi, the head of sustainable business at the United Overseas Bank (Thailand). This revelation comes on the heels of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, where the imminent industrial upheaval stole the spotlight. Climate…
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111 Thai nationals freed from Myanmar but 10 face charges
A total of 111 Thai nationals stranded amidst Myanmar‘s violent conflict found their way back home to Chiang Rai. The return of the Thai citizens, orchestrated by the Thailand-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC), marked the fourth group to be repatriated, tallying up to 179 individuals. Amidst the gripping rescue, however, a shocking twist unfolded at the Second Friendship Bridge in…
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King’s son returns to Thailand: Grabs first Thai ID and passport
His Majesty the King‘s second eldest son, Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, has made a monumental return to Thailand, marking his presence by securing his first-ever Thai ID card and a brand-new passport. The royal revelation was brought to light by political maven Chompoonute Nakornthap, aka Cherie, in a Facebook post that set social media abuzz. The tantalising post yesterday, December 15, featured…
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Former MFP leader Pita faces court drama over media scandal
The former leader of the Move Forward party (MFP), Pita Limjaroenrat, is gearing up for a courtroom showdown to defend himself against allegations involving a media scandal. Former MFP leader Pita has declared his readiness to face the Constitutional Court next Wednesday, December 20. The political maverick is set to battle allegations that he held shares in the now-defunct iTV…
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Former transport minister Saksayam Chidchob to be judged by charter court
The Constitutional Court will unveil its verdict on January 17 on the contentious share concealment accusations against former Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob. Following a marathon six-hour hearing, Saksayam defended himself against all accusations. “I’ve laid bare the truth about my stake in Burijarearn Construction Limited Partnership. I’ve fully explained the matter.” The court spectacle featured an ensemble cast, including Varaporn Thetsen,…
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Social Security Board candidates call for higher pension rates
A majority of the candidates in the race for the new Social Security Board have underscored the need to increase pension rates for retirees within the social security system. They also drew attention to the crucial requirement of enhancing transparency and efficiency in managing the Social Security Fund (SSF). The election, slated for December 24, will see over 800,000 registered…
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Xi Jinping and Joe Biden at China-US summit: The twist that could change relations forever
Ambassador Xie Feng dubbed the historic meeting between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping last month in San Francisco a groundbreaking milestone in the decades-old relationship. The face-to-face encounter between the Chinese and US presidents marked a significant step forward after a year of diplomatic silence. During their talks, both leaders hammered out agreements on critical issues…
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Thai senator faces lawsuit for alleged money laundering
Senator Upakit Pachariyangkun is facing charges after public prosecutors filed a lawsuit against him today, December 14. The Thai politician has been accused of money laundering and aiding a transnational criminal organisation. This legal action follows the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) decision to indict Upakit on charges of money laundering, involvement in a transnational criminal organisation, and alleged support…
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Hong Kong civil servants face fury if they dare criticise government
Hong Kong‘s civil servants are set to face disciplinary action if they openly criticise government policies. The proposed changes to the code of conduct have ignited a firestorm of controversy, with restrictions on comments both in their official capacity and as ordinary residents. Under the unveiled amendments, civil servants must now uphold political neutrality as one of 12 core values,…
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Ex-Democrat Party deputy cleared of abduction charges in Thailand
The court dismissed the case against Prinn Panitchpakdi, a former deputy leader of the Democrat Party, stating that the case is time-barred as it was not reported within three months. The court found no wrongdoing in the case of abducting a minor as the defendant had voluntarily driven the minor home without deviating from the route. The incident occurred at…
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Thai-Saudi economic extravaganza: Mega Fair 2023 takes Riyadh by storm
The Thailand Mega Fair 2023 descended upon the Arena Riyadh, heralding a four-day fiesta of premium Thai products and services that has the Saudi Arabian capital buzzing with excitement until Saturday, December 16. Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, doubling as deputy prime minister, kicked off the festivities with an inauguration that not only marked the start of the grand event but…
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Xi Jinping’s game-changing Vietnam visit: Unprecedented power plays
China‘s President Xi Jinping descended upon Vietnam for a two-day spectacle, strategically timed just three months after US President Joe Biden‘s high-profile visit. The Chinese president kicked off his much-anticipated two-day sojourn in Vietnam on December 12, marking his first visit to the nation in six years. The intricate dance of diplomacy has been underway for months, with initial contemplation…
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Thai youth unite to battle climate change and violence against children
Young minds from all corners of Thailand recently converged in Bangkok to unveil General Comment No. 26 (GC26), a global manifesto championing children’s rights and environmental protection. The event, Child Safe & Friendly Environment – Ending Violence Against Children: Environmental Safety, orchestrated by the Thai Child Rights Network in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, UNICEF…
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NEPC plans to cap power tariff for Thai households at current rate
The National Energy Policy Council (NEPC), in its recent meeting, moved to limit the power tariff for households consuming not more than 300 units a month at the existing rate of 3.99 baht per unit, an insider familiar with the meeting discussions revealed. In the NEPC meeting, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, two main points were reviewed, both related…
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MFP MP, Rukchanok Srinork, granted bail with conditions
The Criminal Court of Thailand granted a temporary release to Move Forward Party (MFP) MP Rukchanok Srinork. Rukchanok was prosecuted for violating Section 112 of the Criminal Law or lèse majesté law, and Computer Act after she retweeted posts from her Twitter account between July 18 to August 9 of last year, 2022. The messages she retweeted were about the…
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Malaysia PM reshuffles Cabinet: Second finance minister appointed
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim orchestrated a Cabinet reshuffle, unveiling a strategic plan to fortify his administration and rebuild public confidence, just one year into his tenure. In a much-anticipated move, Anwar unveiled five new ministerial appointments, expanding the Cabinet’s reach to navigate the challenges of today and confront global shifts, notably the surge of artificial intelligence. The headline change…
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Bangkok MP Rukchanok Srinork sentenced to six years for tweets
The Criminal Court has sentenced Rukchanok Srinork, a Bangkok MP from the Move Forward Party (MFP), to six years in prison without suspension. The charges stem from her tweets and retweets of others’ messages in 2020, in violation of Section 112 of the Criminal Code and the Computer Crime Act and lèse majesté. The verdict was delivered at 9am today,…
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DOC denies policy to detain prisoners outside prison favours ex-PM Thaksin
The Department of Corrections (DOC) refuted allegations that its latest policy, permitting the detention of prisoners outside of prison, is designed to favour Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister. The 74 year old former PM was recently sentenced to eight years for three separate cases and was immediately moved to a police hospital. The newly introduced regulation, announced on Thursday…
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Unidentified man attacks Thai political aide in Government House
A dispute erupted at Government House during a Cabinet meeting today, December 12, when an unidentified man assaulted a Thai political aide. The incident occurred around 11.35am at the APCD 60+ coffee shop, adjacent to the main government building where the Cabinet meeting was taking place. The assailant, whose identity is known only as Itthipol, entered Government House without uttering…
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Thai government proposes 15 billion baht plan for informal debtors relief
The Ministry of Finance proposed a plan to the Cabinet to assist informal debtors, allocating a budget of 15 billion baht through the Government Savings Bank (GSB) and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). This initiative will also aid debtors affected by the Covid-19 situation who have lost their credit bureau records. At the Government House at 10am…
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Thai labour minister takes wages for a spin: Cabinet gears up for minimum wage review
Thai Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced that the Cabinet will be looking into a review of the new daily minimum wage rates. This comes after several business organisations urged the government to uphold the decision made by a tripartite wage committee regarding the increase in wages. Phiphat disclosed that he has no authority to review the rates approved by the…
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Thailand’s Democrat Party in crisis following mass leadership change
The Democrat Party in Thailand teeters on the brink of a crisis, following an overwhelming loss of members due to a recent change in leadership, according to the party’s former leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. Chalermchai Sri-on, the ninth elected leader of the Democrats, took over the reins amidst internal turmoil. Abhisit, in his first public comment since the leadership election on December 9,…
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Thai Cabinet reshuffle could impact economy and foreign investment
The Thai Cabinet, currently conducting mobile meetings in Nong Bua Lam Phu – the country’s poorest province, is speculated to face potential reshuffles in leadership or dissolution in the coming year, intensifying the political activities across various Thai provinces. Such changes could pose a risk to the country’s economy, given the current administration is only a few months old. The…
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Thailand and Vietnam set for a strategic partnership
In a diplomatic move, Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin declared the intention to elevate ties with Vietnam to a comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP). During bilateral talks with Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the 61 year old Thai PM expressed optimism about the lightning-fast progress in their relations. He highlighted the effectiveness of collaboration across various sectors. Thailand and…
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Private hospitals under fire as government cracks down on skyrocketing costs
The Internal Trade Department tightens control on private hospitals, urging them to play ball in the battle against soaring medical expenses. The government demands transparency and cooperation from over 300 private medical institutions. Wattanasak Sur-iam, the director-general of the Internal Trade Department, has thrown down the gauntlet in a bid to bring down the cost of living for citizens. In a…
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Thai PM blames past governments for Thai students’ poor PISA test results
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin places blame on previous governments for the lacklustre performance of Thai students in recent international assessments. PM Srettha, whose government assumed power a mere three months ago, pledged to tackle the issue head-on and place a renewed focus on enhancing the country’s educational standards. The Thai PM’s comments were motivated by the latest results from the…
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Thai PM unleashes secret weapon: Muay Thai to conquer the world
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin unveiled a bold plan to transform Muay Thai into Thailand‘s ultimate soft power. The Thai PM declared Muay Thai as Thailand’s top soft power, highlighting its vast economic potential. Government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke conveyed the PM’s vision, stating that the administration is keen on integrating Muay Thai into school curricula to foster a new generation of…
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Thai government launches aggressive campaign against illegal lending
The Thai government has prioritised an aggressive campaign against illegal lending and loan sharks, in an attempt to curb what Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin refers to as modern-day slavery. The move emphasises the urgency to dismantle such activities to restore social stability and security. The 61 year old Thai PM stated the issue of illegal loans has escalated to a…
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Health department halts bottled water factory production in Roi Et (video)
The Department of Health has ordered an immediate halt to production at a bottled water factory in Roi Et province. The decision was made following the release of a shocking video showing water being manually filled into bottles. The factory, which is a licensed water production facility, was inspected and found to be non-compliant with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.…
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