Politics
- Thailand News
New Thai PM, Srettha, vows to elevate Thai well-being, royal PM appointment postponed
The newly elected Prime Minister of Thailand promised to elevate the well-being of the Thai people after yesterday’s Parliament meeting to select a new PM. However, the scheduled royal ceremony for the installation of the new PM at 8pm encountered a delay. During the Parliament meeting to select a new PM, the Pheu Thai Party’s candidate, Srettha Tavisin, managed to…
- Thailand News
New era in Thailand: Srettha Tavisin voted 30th Prime Minister of Thailand
Thailand can finally hail a new leader after Pheu Thai Party candidate Srettha Tavisin secured enough votes from members of the National Assembly of Thailand to become the kingdom’s 30th prime minister. Today, August 22, marked a day of significance for Thailand, as the nation witnessed two important events. Leading the headlines was the return of a former Thai PM,…
- Business News
Political change, Thai PM appointment poised to boost stocks
The anticipated appointment of Thailand‘s 30th prime minister this week is predicted to bolster stocks likely to benefit from political change and the policies and stimulus measures proposed by the Pheu Thai Party, reported Bangkok Post. Brokerage firm Asia Plus Securities (ASPS) projects the 11-party coalition, which declared on Monday its possession of 314 MP seats, will secure enough senatorial…
- Thailand News
NIDA survey says: Pheu Thai Party’s unique political partnership faces public disapproval
A recent telephone survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed significant disapproval of the Pheu Thai Party‘s plan to form a special government in collaboration with its political adversaries, Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation (UTN) parties. This survey, also known as the NIDA poll, was conducted from August 15 through August 17 and involved a detailed…
- Politics News
Pheu Thai Party confides challenges in forming new Thai coalition government
In an evolving political landscape where the constitution, power structures and group conflicts have become major challenges, the Pheu Thai Party acknowledged that manoeuvring the formation of a new coalition government is far from simple. According to Pheu Thai’s Deputy Leader, Phumtham Wechayachai, the party has to remain committed and steadfast in its approach to lead the nation out of…
- Thailand News
Parliament’s prime delay: PM selection meeting postponed as Constitution Court weighs Pita renomination
Parliament President Wan Muhamad Nor Matha (Wan Nor) officially announced today that the prime minister selection meeting, scheduled for tomorrow, is postponed until further notice. The delay is a result of the postponement of the Constitution Court to decide on the renomination of Pita Limjaroenrat as a PM candidate. The Thai Ombudsman last week requested the Constitution Court to determine…
- Thailand News
MFP calls out Pheu Thai Party’s lies on lese majeste law revision
The Move Forward (MFP) yesterday accused the Pheu Thai Party of lying. The MFP insist the Pheu Thai Party never requested them to withdraw their plan to revise the lese majeste law. The Pheu Thai Party yesterday announced an official split from the MFP and six other aligned parties, which had earlier agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding…
- Thailand News
Move forward, lese divide: Thai election winner MFP sparks coalition clash over lese majeste law revision
Thai General Election winner the Move Forward Party (MFP) is refusing to abandon its ideology, insisting it will revise the lese majeste law, leading to a division among the Pheu Thai Party and the eight coalition parties. As a consequence, the Pheu Thai Party insisted that they cannot work with the MFP and announced they will form a government with…
- Thailand News
MFP member alleges death threats from Pheu Thai Party employee
Move Forward Party (MFP) Rakchanok Srinork yesterday revealed she received death threats from an employee of former Pheu Thai Party MP Wanchalerm Ubumrung. The Bang Born district of Bangkok MP took her first steps on the political ladder in May’s General Election. Her victory was a surprise because the area was previously a safe Pheu Thai Party seat under Wanchalerm.…
- Thailand News
MFP seeks reconsideration of Pita’s prime ministerial candidacy
The Move Forward Party (MFP) is determined to push for a reconsideration of Pita Limjaroenrat’s renomination as a prime ministerial candidate, urging the National Assembly to handle the matter internally without involving the Constitution Court. The scheduled Parliament meeting for prime minister (PM) selection, initially set for July 27, took an unexpected turn when Parliament President Wan Muhamad Nor Matha,…
- World News
Olive branch withers as US ‘undoes’ progress with Beijing trash-talking
A week after extending an olive branch to China, attempting to smooth over the perpetual political tensions between the two economic powerhouses, the United States once again undid any progress with another round of Beijing trash-talking. It seems there is a song, but the US are singing from different song sheets. A week before, US diplomat Henry Kissinger met with…
- Thailand News
Thailand prime minister selection meeting takes a raincheck
The President of the National Assembly of Thailand today officially announced the meeting in Parliament to choose the next prime minister has been postponed. The meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday, July 27, will be delayed until further notice. Wan Muhamad Nor Matha, also known as Wan Nor, explained that the meeting to select the next Thai prime minister has been cancelled until…
- Thailand News
Flour protest: Activist group targets Palang Pracharath members at Pheu Thai office
Political chaos erupted outside the Pheu Thai Party head office in Bangkok yesterday, as the Thalu Wang activist group staged a disruptive protest, demanding the party cease negotiations with Thailand’s military-backed factions. The protest, which saw flour being poured on Palang Pracharath Party (PPP) members, resulted in the cancellation of a press conference. The roots of this turmoil can be…
- Thailand News
Move forward, step back: Thailand’s election winner yields to Pheu Thai Party to form govt
Thailand’s General Election winner, the Move Forward Party (MFP), and its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, have agreed to step back and make way for the Pheu Thai Party to lead the coalition parties and form a government. The MFP Permanent Secretary, Chaitawat Tulathon, today, July 21, revealed the party’s struggles over the past two months during a press conference. The conservative…
- Thailand News
Move Forward Party’s ‘Pita’-ful plan: Deputy leader aims for Thailand’s PM seat
The deputy leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP) revealed to the media today that the party plans another attempt to put forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat as Thailand’s next prime minister. Natthawut Buapratum made known the MFP will discuss the matter with the eight coalition parties. Natthawut revealed that Pita’s bid to become PM was blocked by many MPs and senators…
- Thailand News
Election winner, Pita Limjaroenrat, blocked to become Thai Prime Minister
In a marathon seven-hour session of Parliament yesterday, the majority of members arrived at a consensus that Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP) and the winner of the General Election, would not meet the eligibility criteria to assume the position of Thai Prime Minister (PM). Furthermore, he will not be considered a candidate for the second round…
- Thailand News
Election intrigue: Thai court mulls lawsuit over EC’s unjust targeting of MFP leader Pita
In a significant development, the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases is considering a lawsuit against the Election Commission (EC) of Thailand for unjustly targeting Pita Limjaroenrat, the Move Forward Party’s leader, resulting in damage to his reputation. A verdict on whether to officially open the case for hearing is expected at 9:30am on August 9. Those implicated…
- Politics News
Forward no more: MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat suspended from Parliament duty by Constitutional Court (video)
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP) and a candidate for the prime ministerial position, has been suspended from his role as an elected member of the House of Representatives by the Constitutional Court. The court’s decision came after accepting a complaint regarding Pita’s ownership of shares in the now-defunct media company, iTV Plc. According to the…
- Thailand News
Bhumjaithai Party MP found holding iTV shares, investigation called
Thai news agencies and locals were quick to highlight the fact that Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), owned shares in the media company iTV. However, it appears that Pita is not the only politician with such holdings. Bhumjaithai Party MP Jakkrit Thongsi also possesses 40,000 shares in a media company. The Office of the National…
- Thailand News
Crying wolf: Thai senators take legal action against insults and threats
Several Thai senators announced they are processing legal action against all those who insulted and threatened them after they blocked Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s path to becoming prime minister. A bizarre move considering those senators are subverting the course of democracy and the will of the people of Thailand. Pita failed to secure enough votes to become…
- Thailand News
Stepping forward: MFP aims to rewrite Senate’s role in selecting Thai Prime Minister
The Move Forward Party (MFP) today proposed a revision to Section 272 of the Constitution in order to reduce the power of the Thai Senate and the role of its senators in selecting the Prime Minister of Thailand. Under Section 272 of the Constitution, senators appointed by the last military-led government have the privilege to sway the PM vote. Section…
- Thailand News
Words as ammunition: Bhumjaithai Party MP demands ‘shooting’ law for people insulting Thai monarchy
Controversial Bhumjaithai Party Deputy Leader Chada Thaiseth yesterday demanded a new law be introduced to shoot people who insult the Thai monarchy. The 62 year old MP believes Thai people should be allowed to turn vigilante and shoot people who criticise the monarchy without consequence. Chada made the shocking announcement in Parliament after Pita Limjaornerat, the leader of the Move…
- Thailand News
Election letdown: MFP leader falls short of prime ministerial votes in Thai race
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP) and the top vote-getter in the General Election 2023, fell short of securing enough votes from the members of Parliament and senators to become the Thai Prime Minister. Despite obtaining 323 votes, Pita failed to reach the required threshold of 375 votes. The newly elected President of Parliament, Wan Muhamad…
- Thailand News
Racket restriction: Thai senators and EC officers ‘served’ ban from Thailand badminton court
A badminton court in northern Thailand announced on its official Facebook page that Thai senators and Election Commission (EC) officers and their family members are banned from visiting or playing on the premises. The Panda Arena badminton centre, in the northern province of Uttaradit, announced on Facebook… “Our badminton court does not allow senators and EC authorities, along with their…
- Thailand News
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha resigns from party and exits politics
The Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha, yesterday announced that he is resigning from the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party and stepping out of the political arena for good. The official Facebook account of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, also known as the United Thai Nation Party, posted the resignation announcement of PM Prayut at about 4pm yesterday. In…
- Thailand News
Thai police ban book critiquing monarchy, citing national security threat
Royal Thai Police have prohibited the circulation of an upcoming book that scrutinises the nation’s monarchy. The prohibition was issued in response to the book’s perceived slander towards the royal institution, according to a police statement in the Royal Gazette. The contentious publication, ‘Rama X: The Thai Monarchy under King Vajiralongkorn,’ both in its content and cover, is considered to express…
- World News
Frustration boils in Marseille’s troubled neighbourhoods amid slow change
Two years ago, at the tender age of 17, Amine helplessly witnessed his sibling’s life ending in a blaze, his charred body discovered from a burnt car’s boot. His brother, who had sadly succumbed to the world of drugs and trafficking before his tragic demise, was a victim of the lawless underworld flourishing in Marseille’s most infamous neighbourhoods. Today, at…
- Thailand News
Dozy deputy: Prawit, once again, caught napping on the job in Parliament
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan has been caught at it again, snoozing on the job, during a Parliament meeting. It’s not the first time Prawit, affectionately known as “Uncle Pom,” has been caught nodding off at work. The 77 year old politician has always defended himself against the accusations saying he was only “resting his eyes,” just like Sleeping Beauty.…
- Politics News
Thai election concerns rise due to prolonged ballot box transport in Buri Ram
Concerns have been raised over the prolonged transportation time of ballot boxes in Buri Ram, following the recent general Thai election. A group of ten complainants from Non Suwan and Nong Ki districts filed a request with the Election Commission’s Buri Ram office, questioning why it took four and a half hours to transport the ballot boxes across a 20-kilometre…
- Politics News
Move Forward Party opposes alcohol ban on Buddhist holidays
Prominent members of the Move Forward Party (MFP), which recently claimed victory in elections, have voiced their disagreement with the Thai government’s ban on alcohol sales during significant Buddhist holidays, arguing that it restricts freedom. Amarat Chokpamitkul, an MFP executive, expressed her disagreement with the prohibition of alcohol sales on Vesak Day, a holiday that marks the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment,…