Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party, revealed on Monday the plan to create a coalition government consisting of five former opposition parties and a new party, bringing their total number of MPs to 309, with Pita himself as the prime minister. The announcement followed the Election Commission’s declaration of the Move Forward Party as the winner in Sunday’s general election with a total of 151 MPs – 112 representing constituencies and 39 from the party list. Pita regarded the victory as a public mandate for his party to act as the central force in the formation of the upcoming government. He mentioned speaking with Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the leader of the Pheu Thai Family, to congratulate her on her persistence throughout the campaign and invite her party to join the coalition. In return, Paetongtarn expressed her congratulations to Move Forward and emphasized the importance of transparency in their…
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Election Commission Chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong announced the unofficial outcomes of the general election on Monday, with the Move Forward Party emerging as the winner with the largest number of seats. United States Ambassador Robert Godec congratulated Thailand on a successful election, stating that as a longstanding friend and ally of the nation, the U.S. eagerly anticipates the final results. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb) Ittiporn Boonpracong informed that 99% of the ballots had been tallied, and the Move Forward Party secured victory. The election saw a record voter turnout of 39,293,867, or 75.22%, out of the 52,238,594 eligible voters. This surpassed the 75.03% turnout in 2011 and was higher than the turnout during the 2019 polls, which stood at 74.87%. Thailand witnessed tens of millions of people participating in the election as observers, poll workers, media members, candidates, and most importantly, as voters. The energy and enthusiasm displayed by the people of…
As Covid-19 cases continue to rise, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) has issued a stark warning to the public about the importance of remaining vigilant and protecting themselves from the virus. Dr. Tares Krassanairawiwong, the director-general, shared alarming statistics indicating that over the last week, the number of Covid-19 inpatients increased by 39%, reaching a total of 2,356. Moreover, he revealed that the number of patients suffering from lung inflammation and relying on ventilators had surged by approximately 45%. The death toll related to the virus also doubled on a weekly basis. Among the most recent fatalities, 55% were vulnerable and unvaccinated individuals, while the rest had experienced a significant drop in Covid-19 antibody count after being vaccinated or infected more than six months ago. Dr. Tares emphasized the need for people to take a proactive approach in receiving both Covid-19 and influenza vaccines simultaneously, as doing so would…
At the Bangkok headquarters of the Move Forward Party, leader Pita Limjaroenrat faced questions from reporters about his stance towards the monarchy. Two senators have declared their intention not to support Pita as the new prime minister, questioning his commitment to the constitutional monarchy. Senator Jadet Insawang expressed his concerns on Monday, stating that upon taking office, he pledged to uphold the current constitution, which includes Sections 6 and 50, requiring everyone to protect the constitutional monarchy. However, the Move Forward Party and its leader, Pita, have announced plans to repeal Section 112, which pertains to lese majeste law under the Criminal Code and is designed to protect the image of His Majesty the King. According to Senator Jadet, this move could lead to discrediting the royal institution, which he deems unacceptable. He firmly declared, “If Mr. Pita is nominated [for prime minister], I will reject it because I will…
In a shocking turn of events, rescue workers recently discovered the body of a murdered Ukrainian woman in a condominium located in Bang Kolaem district, Bangkok. The grisly discovery led to the arrest of a 25-year-old Polish man, identified as Jan Filippow, who allegedly murdered his girlfriend and attempted to dismember her body in their highrise condominium. As the story unfolds, police reported that Filippow hastily hailed a taxi at the condominium building on Monday afternoon, which raised suspicions of the taxi driver due to his hurried demeanor. The driver attempted to stall Filippow by asking him to wait, before notifying the condominium staff about his unusual behavior. Despite the driver’s efforts, Filippow demanded to be taken away from the building immediately. The alerted condominium staff then contacted the room owner, who later discovered the 27-year-old Ukrainian woman’s body lying face-up in her bed on the 32nd floor. The scene…
Deputy leader of the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party, Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, expressed his appreciation on Monday for the support his party received in the recent elections, stating that they will respect the election winners’ decisions when it comes to the formation of the next government. Following the release of the election results on Sunday, Thanakorn spoke at Government House, extending his gratitude to every voter who supported the party and its candidates. Thanakorn expressed particular thanks to UTN supporters in Nakhon Si Thammarat, his hometown, noting, “UTN MPs from the South have managed to reach their targets, so I want to thank voters in Nakhon Si Thammarat for making it happen.” He acknowledged that election losses are a normal part of the political process and congratulated the parties that secured more votes than the UTN. Regarding the anticipated makeup of the next cabinet, Thanakorn said, “We’ll have to wait and…
As the Move Forward Party and Pheu Thai Party are set to form a coalition government in Thailand, taking nearly 60% of the House’s seats, prominent economist Assoc Prof Piti Srisangna of Chulalongkorn University reminds them to fulfill their extensive list of promises. These two parties have pledged various benefits for the Thai people during their election campaigns, which Piti will be closely monitoring. Director of the International Economics Centre, Assoc Prof Piti Srisangna, shares the major commitments the parties have made on his personal Facebook wall, outlining what the Thai citizens can expect from the upcoming coalition government: The immediate rise of the minimum wage to 450 baht per day, with yearly increments reaching 600 baht per day by 2027. A starting salary of 25,000 baht per month for university graduates and the creation of one million new jobs for Thai citizens. An increase in farmers’ yearly incomes by…
National Police Chief, Pol General Damrongsak Kittiprapas, revealed on Monday that only eight instances of vote-buying have been reported so far, with four cases already being addressed. Additionally, authorities are investigating 21 cases of damaged ballots to determine whether they were intentionally destroyed. The ballots will be handed over to the Election Commission following the completion of the investigation. Damrongsak expressed his belief that the damaged ballots were not politically motivated, but rather result from drunk voters tearing them or accidental staining caused by individuals dropping their papers while casting votes. Deliberate destruction of ballots is considered a violation of election law. In an effort to prevent a recurrence of unrest like that experienced during previous elections, the police chief has deployed additional officers to Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, and Ratchaburi. He further noted that no irregularities have been reported in the 20 provinces where electoral competition is most…
The record-breaking voter turnout on May 14th demonstrated a strong desire among Thai citizens to actively participate in their democratic process and exercise their right to vote. This surge of enthusiasm and engagement highlights a new chapter in the nation’s political landscape. Once the polling centers closed their doors at 5 pm on May 14th, each committee at the individual polling locations began the process of opening the ballot boxes and counting the votes. Upon completion of the count, the Election Commission (EC) was informed of the results. As we look ahead to July-August, several key events and milestones are anticipated, in accordance with the Constitution and established guidelines: In compliance with Section 85 of the Constitution, the EC is required to announce the official election results within 60 days following Election Day. Should any candidates or voters suspect unfair practices during the election, they have the option to submit…
The Election Commission (EC) has released unverified results of the recent election, revealing a competitive race among the contending parties. The following is an overview of the current standings: Move Forward Party: Securing 152 seats with 112 won in constituencies and 39 through the party-list system. Pheu Thai Party: Capturing 141 seats consisting of 112 constituency and 29 party-list positions. Bhumjaithai Party: Bringing home 71 seats, of which 68 were from constituencies and 3 via party-list. Palang Pracharath Party: Obtaining a total of 40 seats that include 39 representing constituencies and 1 from the party-list tier. United Thai Nation Party: Gaining 36 seats with 23 from constituencies and 13 as party-list members. Democrat Party: Securing 25 seats, made up of 22 constituency-representatives and 3 party-list officials. Chart Thai Pattana Party: Winning 10 seats, 9 of which were claimed in constituencies and 1 via party-list. Prachachart Party: Preserving 9 seats, with…