A new coalition of eight Thai political parties has come together to make a stand on important national issues and support the transition of power. During discussions at the Prachachat Party headquarters in Bangkok, the group resolved to create a coordinating committee in the midst of the transitional period, as well as seven working groups to tackle vital topics that affect the nation. Both the House speaker position and the allocation of cabinet positions, which are the subject of much speculation, were set aside and will be addressed separately. Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward party, reassured attendees that the speaker issue will not interfere with government formation. Prime ministerial finalist Mr. Pita added that government agencies have already been in touch with the Move Forward party to explore concerns regarding the incoming administration. Representing the coalition’s concerted effort to find solutions and establish policies, the seven working groups…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Chalermchai Sri-on, the current Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has announced his decision to resign as secretary-general of the Democrat Party when a new leader and executives are chosen on July 13. While it remains uncertain whether the party will select a younger leader, that decision will be made by a party committee during the upcoming general assembly. Jurin Laksanawisit previously announced his departure from the role following the May 14 election, where the Democrat Party, the country’s oldest existing party, won a mere 25 House seats. This was a significant decrease from the 53 seats they held in 2019 and much lower than expected. Regarding the possibility of the Democrats forming an alliance with the Pheu Thai Party if the Move Forward-led coalition falls apart, Chalermchai stated that any such agreement would require the support of a formal party resolution. Once he steps down as secretary-general, Chalermchai plans to…
Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), has been under investigation by the Election Commission (EC) due to the alleged holding of 42,000 shares in a media company, which is prohibited for electoral candidates by the constitution. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam stated that if the Constitutional Court accepts the case, it might suspend Mr. Pita until a decision is reached. According to Mr. Wissanu, the case may either close if the EC rules in Mr. Pita’s favor and endorses him as a list-MP or escalate to the Constitutional Court if they rule against him. The EC can investigate the complaint at any stage, before or after the election results are officially announced. As a reference, the Deputy Prime Minister cites the case against Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the former leader of the now-dissolved Future Forward Party (FFP). Mr. Thanathorn faced similar accusations of violating the share-holding rule, and the…
Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul and Pheu Thai Party prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin found themselves amidst fans at a Leicester City football match in England. A photo of the two politicians attending the game ignited rumors of a “secret deal” to form a coalition led by the Pheu Thai party. However, Srettha Thavisin took to Twitter to dismiss the speculations and clarify that their encounter at the King Power Stadium was purely coincidental. Thavisin, a property tycoon, mentioned that he had known the family of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha for years and went to the game to support Leicester City’s efforts to avoid relegation. As for Anutin, Thavisin said they exchanged greetings and talked when they bumped into each other. He made it clear that there were no political talks or deals at the game, and added, “We don’t have to come to England to talk [about politics].” The meeting of…
Waste management remains a critical issue in today’s world, as growing consumption and consumerism generate massive amounts of waste daily. While countries have adopted various waste disposal practices, from landfilling to incineration, environmental concerns emerged, leading to the promotion of recycling as an efficient solution for reducing waste and reusing materials. However, a recent study published in the “Journal of Hazardous Material Advances” has raised concerns about recycling systems and their potential to release microplastics into the environment. This finding has sparked discussions about the effectiveness of recycling in genuinely benefiting the environment and how it might be causing harm instead. Recycling entails the transformation or improvement of waste and used materials, restoring them to a near-original state or obtaining new materials and products. An international team of scientists investigated the wastewater produced by a state-of-the-art recycling facility in the United Kingdom, revealing that approximately 13% of the plastic released…
In the race for Thailand’s top government positions, a potential milestone lies ahead. If she secures the post, Prawikan Kramsak becomes the first woman in the country’s history to hold such an esteemed position. This groundbreaking achievement could pave the way for more women to follow in her footsteps. However, achieving gender balance in the government remains an uphill battle. Thailand welcomed its first female Member of Parliament back in 1949, a momentous occasion that took place 17 years after the country’s transition from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy. Despite this, it was only in 1988 that a woman first held a ministerial position. Supattra Massadit took on the role of Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, a position she maintained until 1990. In its pursuit of gender equality, the Prime Minister’s Office has been more progressive than other branches of the Thai government. Yet the ministries of Finance,…
As the number of Thai nationals active on social media continues to surge, TikTok has emerged as a potent force for politicians seeking to sway public opinion and secure votes. In this article, we explore the growing impact of TikTok on Thai politics, delve into the remarkable success of the Move Forward party on the platform, and examine the broader ramifications of this social media phenomenon. Recent data from datareportal.com reveals that an impressive 85.4% of Thais are connected to the internet, with 52.25 million individuals actively engaging on social media platforms. While Facebook remains Thailand’s most popular platform, TikTok is quickly gaining ground among the younger generation and increasingly influencing political discourse. The platform boasts 40.3 million users in Thailand, contributing to its more than a billion worldwide users. Among the political parties tapping into TikTok for their campaigns, the Move Forward party stands out for its success. Their…
During the AgriConnect Conference & Exhibition opening ceremony held at True Digital Park in Bangkok on May 24, a keynote speaker discussed the impact of climate change on many regions worldwide, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia. It was noted that the unsustainable use of resources only heightened the severity of climate change and that collaborative sustainable solutions must be sought. The speaker emphasized the importance of practices such as precision farming, conservation tillage, and water management in achieving eco-efficiency. However, limited knowledge of emerging technologies and restricted access to novel techniques could impede progress, leading to inferior crop yields and decreased revenue. Agriculture Vice Minister Narapat Kaeothong highlighted the importance of eco-efficiency in agriculture for environmental protection. It aims to produce more agricultural output in terms of quantity and quality while utilizing less input of land, water, nutrients, energy, and labor. Karsten Ziebell, the team leader of the…
The Police Commission, Thailand’s leading authority for law enforcement, recently convened at the Royal Thai Police headquarters in Bangkok, where they supported the recommendations of the disciplinary committee regarding law enforcement officers who have engaged in serious breaches of conduct. Subsequent to the meeting, police spokesperson Pol Lt-General Artchayon Kraithong revealed that, in May alone, nine police officers were dismissed with no pension benefits, while two more faced removal but still maintained eligibility for pensions. According to Kraithong, a total of 65 police officers had their employment terminated without pension and an additional 14 were removed but permitted to receive pensions between January and May of this year. In attendance at the meeting, and chairing the proceedings, was outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who also serves as the official chair of the Police Commission. Currently, Thailand’s police force is comprised of approximately 210,700 to 230,000 individuals and constitutes around 17%…
A nurse administered a Covid-19 vaccine in Bangkok on May 11, marking a continued effort in combatting the pandemic. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu) The Public Health Department reports a decline in Covid-19 related deaths last week, indicating that the prevalent strain is not more contagious or severe. Permanent Secretary Opas Karnkawinpong announced on Monday that there were 42 Covid-related fatalities last week, decreasing from 64 the week before. “The (fatality) rate is starting to fall,” he commented. A majority of these deaths were among elderly individuals, those with pre-existing health conditions, and pregnant women. Causes of death typically included lung inflammation, respiratory failure, and complications stemming from chronic kidney disease. “Most of them had not sought the vaccination advised by the health ministry. Some people had fears of side effects,” Dr. Opas stated. “Vaccines reduce symptoms and fatalities. Young family members should take their elders for vaccination. However, sometimes it turns…