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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Royal Ploughing Ceremony kicks off Thailand’s rice planting season
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony, held at Sanam Luang today, marked the beginning of the rice planting season in Thailand. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida presided over the annual event. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, members of the Cabinet, and diplomatic representatives were also in attendance. The ceremony, a traditional ritual promoting good fortune and agricultural prosperity, coincides with the sixth…
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Labour minister vows to slash work deaths by 2030
Thailand’s labour boss is declaring war on deadly workplaces—\promising to cut fatalities in half within five years. At the National Occupational Safety Day 2025 opening ceremony, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn unveiled his ambitious “Safety Thailand” vision to drastically reduce serious workplace injuries and deaths. The aim is to bring down severe injury rates from 2.13 to one per 1,000 workers,…
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Tsunami alert: Phuket braces for large-scale emergency drill
Sirens, search dogs, and simulated chaos—Phuket is gearing up for the biggest tsunami disaster drill in years. Local officials announced the CMEX 25 national crisis response exercise, set to hit six Andaman coastal provinces from June 24 to 26, with Phuket taking centre stage. The simulation aims to prepare government agencies, rescue teams, schools, and residents for a worst-case tsunami…
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Thailand’s bold ‘3 Cuts’ plan cripples border call centres
Criminal call centres in Myanmar are running out of juice thanks to Thailand’s tough new crackdown strategy. Three months after launching its “3 Cuts” campaign, the Thai government claims a major victory against cybercrime networks exploiting the border. The operation began on February 5 and aimed to sever the power supply, fuel delivery, and Internet access to five notorious scam…
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Compensation for SAO building collapse victims to begin tomorrow
The first wave of compensation is set to be delivered tomorrow to the families of victims affected by the tragic collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok. A total of 21 relatives from the first batch will receive financial assistance after a series of negotiations with the ITD-CREC Joint Venture, involving Italian-Thai Development and China Railway No.10…
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Thai ministry discusses agricultural product labelling for safety
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Itti Sirilattayakarn chaired a meeting to discuss plans for agricultural product labelling. The meeting, held in meeting room 134 at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, involved representatives from key departments such as the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards (ACFS), the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Livestock Development, the Rice…
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Phuket to enforce 30-hour alcohol ban for Buddhist holiday
Phuket residents are in for a weekend of sobriety as two significant events, a municipal election and the Buddhist holiday Visakha Bucha Day, trigger a major alcohol sales ban. From Saturday evening, May 10 to Sunday evening, May 11, Phuket will see a 30-hour alcohol ban in areas with municipal elections, while a separate 24-hour ban will also be enforced…
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Anutin slams media over ‘false’ ISOC blacklist claims
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul fired back at persistent media claims that he’s been blacklisted by the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) for exploiting the monarchy for political gain. Speaking out on Tuesday, May 6, Anutin, who also serves as deputy prime minister and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, slammed the allegations as “false” and called on the media to stop…
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Thai Airways warns of delays as airspace dispute disrupts flights
Travel chaos looms for passengers heading to South Asia and Europe as Thai Airways International issues a crucial warning about potential delays due to the ongoing airspace closure between Pakistan and India. Last night, May 7, the Thai flag carrier urged passengers flying to India, Pakistan, and European destinations to double-check their flight details. While flights between Thailand and India…
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Phuket aims for noodle world record at mega fest
Phuket is turning up the heat this June as it launches a mouth-watering attempt to make culinary history, by setting a Guinness World Record with its beloved Phuket Hokkien Noodles. The sizzling spectacle will headline the Phuket Peranakan Festival 2025, taking place from June 20 to 22. Over 200 chefs, restaurants and community groups will team up to showcase the iconic…
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Public outrage after People’s Party member arrested in drug trafficking
The People’s Party issued a public apology after one of its members, a candidate in the upcoming Samut Prakan Municipal Council election, was arrested for drug trafficking along with three other suspects yesterday, May 7. Officers from Min Buri Police Station carried out a crackdown on a drug trafficking gang known as Boon Raksa. Four suspects were apprehended, and a…
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Cambodia, Laos ban Thai livestock over anthrax fears
Cambodia and Laos have temporarily halted the importation of livestock and related products from Thailand to prevent the spread of anthrax. According to China’s Xinhua News Agency, Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries has implemented this precautionary measure and is closely monitoring the anthrax situation in Thailand. The ministry stated that while there are currently no anthrax cases in…
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Thai F-16s scramble as Myanmar fighter sparks panic
A Myanmar fighter jet triggered a tense military response this week after flying close to Thai airspace in Kanchanaburi province, prompting the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to deploy two F-16 fighter jets to intercept what was initially classified as an unidentified aircraft. But according to Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, the drama never truly crossed the line, literally. “The aircraft…
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Million-baht bounty: EC offers big cash for election snitching
With municipal elections looming, Thailand’s Election Commission announced it will offer cash rewards of up to 1 million baht for tip-offs leading to proof of election fraud. The move comes amid mounting concerns over vote-buying and irregularities in the lead-up to the May 11 polls, which will see mayoral and council seats contested in 76 provinces. The payouts are part…
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Lèse majesté: US academic fights Thai university sacking
A US academic is challenging his dismissal from a Thai university after being sacked following a dropped lèse majesté charge. The American national claims the termination was unlawful, lacked due process, and violated university regulations. The case has sparked debate over academic freedom and the treatment of foreign scholars in Thailand. Chambers, a former lecturer in the Faculty of Social…
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Paetongtarn hits back over Thaksin hospital scandal
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra came out swinging yesterday, defending her father, ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, amid growing backlash over his controversial hospital stay. Thaksin, now 75, was sentenced to eight years in prison (later reduced to one via royal pardon) after returning from 15 years in self-imposed exile, but instead of doing time behind bars, he was transferred directly to a…
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Leaky billion-baht Thai Parliament building sparks repair scandal
Thailand’s glitzy new Parliament building may be one of the most expensive in the country’s history but five years after opening, it’s already falling apart, and taxpayers are footing the bill – again. The Thai Parliament Complex, officially named Sappaya-Saphasathan, has cost an eye-watering 22.987 billion baht so far but the spending spree isn’t over. Repair budgets totalling nearly 2 billion…
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Thailand state welfare card benefits updated for May
The Department of Comptroller General has announced the updated benefit schedule for state welfare cardholders in May, with key entitlements rolling out in two stages. Deputy Director General Tiwaporn Phasuk confirmed the details, urging recipients to check their eligibility and use the benefits promptly. On May 1, cardholders automatically received: A 300 baht monthly spending allowance, redeemable for essential goods…
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‘Hello, Ni Hao’ campaign woos Chinese tourists back to Thailand
Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong has unveiled the Hello, Ni Hao campaign, a bold new move aimed at rebuilding confidence in Thai tourism among Chinese travellers. The initiative, which kicks off this month, will see more than 300 Chinese media professionals and influencers invited to Thailand to showcase the country’s attractions through social media and press coverage. “This is…
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Paws and effect: New Bangkok law to shake up pet ownership rules
A new law set to take effect in Bangkok early next year will significantly alter pet ownership regulations. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Ordinance on Animal Keeping and Release Control 2024, coming into force on January 10 next year, seeks to manage stray populations and promote responsible pet ownership, particularly affecting dog and cat owners. The ordinance classifies Bangkok as…
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People’s Party urges peace talks after deadly southern attacks
A wave of violence in Thailand’s Deep South has sparked a fierce call to action from the People’s Party, which is demanding the government restart peace talks and urging insurgents to stop slaughtering innocent civilians. The opposition People’s Party has issued an open letter calling on the Thai government to urgently resume stalled peace talks with insurgent groups, while also…
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Thailand urged to adopt single cigarette tax rate to boost revenue
Thailand’s current tiered tax system on cigarettes has been criticised by academics, who urge the government to switch to a single excise tax rate as advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The existing system is said to neither reduce illegal cigarette sales nor increase state revenue or deter new smokers. Dr Roengrudee Patanavanich from Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine…
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Pattaya’s long-delayed stadium finally back on track
Once dubbed a never-ending construction nightmare, Pattaya’s 20,000-seat stadium is finally rising — and could open early. After years of delays, controversies, and abandoned construction, Pattaya’s Eastern Sports Stadium is finally back in the spotlight — for the right reasons. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet has revealed that the long-stalled project is now around 53% complete and 51 days ahead of schedule.…
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Bangkok overhaul plan could hand governor more power
Should Bangkok be run more like a country than a city? Politicians think so — and big changes could be coming. Yesterday, May 1, at Bangkok City Hall’s Nopparat Room near the Giant Swing, Governor Chadchart Sittipunt welcomed Members of Parliament to discuss sweeping proposals to overhaul the city’s outdated administration system. The meeting brought together top Bangkok executives and…
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Thai Army denies online ops, says it’s just ‘correcting facts’
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) claims that it does not engage in online military-style information-influencing operations but instead provides factual corrections to misleading social media information. During a House Committee on National Security meeting, the army spokesperson discussed the state’s use of social media. The session included representatives from the Office of Policy and Planning, Internal Security Operations Command, and…
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Senator faces Supreme Court over misleading PhD claims
The Election Commission (EC) intends to request the Supreme Court to revoke the voting rights of Senator Keskamol Pleansamai, who has been accused of misleading the public regarding her educational qualifications. In her Senate campaign in June 2024, Keskamol claimed to be a professor with a PhD from California University. She received the highest number of votes in the final…
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Thai court probes Thaksin Shinawatra’s prison sentence validity
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Case Division for Persons Holding Political Positions has launched an investigation into whether Thaksin Shinawatra has served his prison sentence. This decision followed the dismissal of a petition by former Democrat MP Charnchai Issarasenarak, who questioned whether Thaksin’s admission to Police General Hospital and subsequent stay until parole constituted serving his sentence in a real prison.…
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Bangkok Bank speeds up yuan transfers to boost China trade
Bangkok Bank has launched an expedited yuan transfer service aimed at reducing costs and enhancing trade with China. Pipat Assawamongkol, assistant manager at Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited, announced that the bank now offers faster yuan transfers after receiving approval from China’s central bank to use the CIPS (Cross-border Interbank Payment System). The system allows direct transfers to CIPS member…
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How to hack Thailand’s May holidays for a 10-day break
Get ready to pack your bags—May is shaping up to be a jackpot month for long holidays, and if you play your cards right, you could be lounging for 10 days straight. Hot on the heels of April’s Songkran break, May brings another wave of public holidays that offer golden opportunities for extended rest, road trips or relaxing staycations. Whether…
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Thailand electricity bills to drop as summer rates slashed
Good news for energy-strapped Thai households and businesses—your next electricity bill might finally give your wallet a break. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is expected to unveil a revised electricity tariff rate today, April 30, that will bring down costs for millions across the country. The adjustment, known as the Fuel Tariff (Ft) rate, is likely to drop from 4.15…
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