Much like the rest of Asia, political dynasties have long been a fixture in Thai politics. Just look at the current cabinet lineup. The tourism and sports minister is the daughter of former deputy commerce minister. The natural resources and environment minister is the brother of Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of Palang Pracharath Party. The … Read more
Thailand’s Constitutional Court yesterday accepted a petition seeking the disbanding of the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP), in connection with the party’s pledge to amend the country’s severe lese-majeste law. The court said that it agreed to take on a complaint filed by the Election Commission on March 12. The complaint requested that it disband … Read more
A Thai court has handed down another harsh prison term against a defendant accused of criticizing the country’s monarchy, in this case on social media. In a ruling yesterday, the Bangkok Post reported that the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court sentenced to 25 years in prison a 26-year-old defendant identified only as “Maggie.” The convictions stemmed … Read more
Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday began a three-day visit of his northern hometown of Chiang Mai, less than a month after his release on parole. According to Reuters, the 74-year-old leader arrived by private jet with his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the head of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, and an entourage of dozens. … Read more
Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) has taken another step toward the disbanding of the Move Forward Party (MFP), which finished first in last year’s general election on a progressive platform. In a decision yesterday, the Commission said that it would ask the Constitutional Court to dissolve the MFP, because of its campaign promise to amend Article … Read more
Exiled former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra could soon be reunited with her brother in Thailand, after a Thai court acquitted her yesterday on charges of mishandling funds for a government project in 2013. According to The Associated Press, which cited a statement from the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Political Office-Holders, the judges unanimously … Read more
Through the twists and turns of Thai politics, the impact of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra looks enduring. To recap, billionaire businessman-turned-politician Thaksin comfortably won two elections in the early 2000s. He achieved brisk economic growth following the Asian Financial Crisis but faced criticisms of meshing business interests with politics. Thaksin was toppled in a … Read more
On Sunday, Thailand’s former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole from a police hospital in Bangkok, bringing a two-decade-long political conflict to a close. The billionaire former leader, who returned from self-imposed exile last August, has spent the past six months in a hospital bed serving time for corruption-related offenses dating from his … Read more
Thailand’s new government cannot get enough of “soft power.” It has become such a buzzword in the Kingdom that a Chiang Mai man on X (formerly Twitter) gasped at the extent of its use, mockingly noting, “My [mate’s] daughter won a Thai dancing competition in [Bangkok] and her school called it a soft power competition.” … Read more
Pita Limjaroenrat is a Member of Parliament of Thailand. He led the Move Forward Party (MFP) into Thailand’s May 2023 election, in which the MFP won the most votes and most seats in the lower house of Thailand’s legislature. However, in Parliament’s votes on who would lead Thailand’s post-coup government, Pita failed to secure enough … Read more