THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, a candidate for the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) list-MP, recently leveled accusations against Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader and prime ministerial candidate for the Move Forward Party (MFP). Mr. Ruangkrai claimed that Mr. Pita held shares in the media company iTV Plc as of April 27th of the previous year. If the Election Commission agrees with this assertion, Mr. Pita could face disqualification from running for parliament, as Section 98(3) of the constitution forbids media company shareholders from participating in a general election. Mr. Ruangkrai announced his intentions to petition the commission for a formal investigation into Mr. Pita’s alleged ineligibility to defend the House seat he won in the 2019 election. According to Mr. Ruangkrai, when Mr. Pita was sworn in on May 25, 2019, the 42,000 iTV shares he held at the time of registration were not included in the 45 assets that he declared to the…

Concerns have been raised over Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project by the Thai Sang Thai (TST) Party, suggesting that it only benefits a select number of large companies, leaving small local businesses at a disadvantage. The EEC is designed to focus on 12 S-curve industries, such as new-generation car production and smart electronics, aiming at transforming it into a high-tech industrial hub. TST prime ministerial candidate, Supan Mongkolsutee, argues that very few small businesses have the ability to meet the EEC’s criteria and become part of the corridor, and calls for increased government support to give small and medium-sized enterprises a competitive edge in the area. In response to the lack of support for some communities within the bureaucratic system, the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) has pledged to resolve the issue. During a campaign session in Ban Sap Hin Kaew, PPRP’s candidate Wirat Warich-alangkarn encountered citizens who complained about…

As the countdown to Sunday’s general election continues, the Election Commission (EC) is working hard to increase voter turnout and ensure a smooth voting process. With a large billboard near Victory Monument announcing the upcoming election, the EC, led by Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong, has launched the “Big Day” campaign to encourage citizens to make their voices heard at the polls. According to City Hall, the voter turnout for Bangkok’s advance voting on the previous Sunday reached an impressive 91.81%, surpassing the 87% recorded during the March 2019 poll. Mr. Ittiporn expressed his hope that the Big Day campaign will stimulate even more participation in the election, and urged voters to familiarize themselves with the election rules to minimize invalid ballots. The EC is aiming for a rejection rate of no more than 2% of all ballots cast this Sunday. While some mistakes occurred during the advance voting stage last weekend,…

Surrounded by enthusiastic supporters during a campaign rally near Bangkok’s Victory Monument, Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat vowed that his party can simultaneously address economic challenges and resolve complex political and social issues if elected to form the next government. Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the party’s campaign assistant, emphasized that while many parties are focused solely on basic economic concerns, the MFP is committed to tackling both economic and multifaceted issues. During a campaign rally in Northeast Thailand, Thanathorn outlined the MFP’s wide-ranging platform, which includes boosting trade, revamping the education curriculum, investing in new technologies, creating jobs, and reforming the military. He shared his vision of the MFP’s ability to implement these policies concurrently, emphasizing that a government led by Pita Limjaroenrat would be able to tackle all of these important issues in tandem. “If Mr. Pita becomes the prime minister, the MFP-led government will set out to do…

Tech giant Google is introducing new tools specifically designed for Thailand’s upcoming general election, while LINE Thailand encourages politicians to utilize their “Official Accounts” for voter communication. Both initiatives aim to combat the spread of misinformation during the election process. Saranee Boonritthongchai, Country Marketing Manager at Google Thailand, expressed Google’s understanding of the importance of providing Thais with relevant and useful information for decision-making during the election period. Google Trends Thailand General Election page was recently launched, making it easier for the public and media to access search trends related to political campaigns. Boonritthongchai said, “We’ve focused our efforts on supporting the 52 million Thais who are expected to cast their vote and more than 3 million first-time voters in the election this year by helping them connect to useful and relevant election-related information online, ensuring that our products offer unbiased, authoritative and timely information.” She added that Google has…

Authorities have arrested a Vietnamese man, Min Sen Wan, who allegedly used a fake Thai ID card and falsified land documents to sell other people’s properties through auction in three northeastern provinces. The arrest occurred at a house in tambon Mak Kheng of Muang district in Udon Thani on Saturday. The 55-year-old is accused of colluding with local officials to hold a Thai ID card and operate a land sales and mortgaging business. Min Sen Wan faces charges of using false documents, providing false information for the issuance of a Thai ID card, and causing damage to others by recording false statements in official documents. The arrest followed a complaint by a group of local residents who alleged that the suspect had inflated the debt amount in falsified contracts when residents mortgaged their title deeds as collateral for loans. Additionally, the suspect is accused of forging documents authorizing him to…

As the Move Forward Party gains traction, campaign adviser Pannika Wanich asserts that their increasing popularity is not just a temporary phenomenon and the party is prepared to be the central force in forming a government. Speaking in Chiang Rai during a campaign stop, Pannika shared the party’s vision for change, criticizing elected parties that prioritize their political donors, supporters, and generals over the people who voted for them. She emphasized that unlike other parties, Move Forward is funded by grassroots members of the public and has a strong position against receiving financial support from political donors. Recent opinion polls place the Pheu Thai and Move Forward parties far ahead of the competition in the May 14 election, with Pheu Thai’s lead potentially shrinking due to voters doubting their commitment to not partnering with military-backed parties. Meanwhile, Move Forward campaign rallies have attracted thousands of participants, rivaling or even surpassing…

An astonishing discovery of cash donations totaling 51 million baht has emerged in the case involving a former monk, Phra Ajarn Khom Abhivaro, and two others accused of embezzling 180 million baht from Wat Pha Dhammakiri temple in Nakhon Ratchasima. The 39-year-old former monk, who gained widespread recognition for his meditation expertise and attracted numerous high-profile followers, was arrested along with accomplices Wutthima, 38, and Juthathip, 35, based on a warrant issued by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. Authorities apprehended the suspects last week, with further revelations suggesting that the former monk also engaged in sexual activities, prompting him to voluntarily leave the monkhood on May 1. The investigation began following accusations from the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) that Khom Abhivaro had misused temple donations for his personal gain. Reports indicate that one such donation was facilitated through Wutthima, a former abbot who transferred the money…

A pickup truck drives past high-voltage power lines in Pathum Thani. Electricity consumption has soared during the current hotter-than-usual summer season. (Photo: Pattanapong Hirunard) On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam defended a proposal to subsidize electricity bills this month, stating that it is not an attempt to boost the government’s popularity ahead of the May 14 election. On Tuesday, the cabinet agreed to allocate 10.4 billion baht from the central budget to subsidize the fuel tariff, easing the public’s financial burden resulting from increased electricity costs during an unusually hot season. As a consequence, around 23.4 million people may receive a 150 baht subsidy to help pay their electricity bills this month. Mr. Wissanu explained that the central budget cannot be utilized if parliament has been dissolved, which happened when the election was announced. Nevertheless, the government can still seek permission from the Electoral Commission (EC) to spend money…