Showing 1 - 10 of 29
Let the capable lead
News, Editorial, Published on 16/09/2024
» The recent scandal involving an alleged audio clip of former deputy prime minister and Palang Pracharath Party leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon talking about promotions has reignited concerns about Thailand's deep-rooted patronage system in civil service appointments.
Srettha Thavisin fell to hidden forces
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 30/08/2024
» Hindsight is likely to place Srettha Thavisin in Thai political annals as a prime minister who tried his best but ultimately succumbed to forces way beyond his control. While his nearly 12-month tenure in office came up short on policy deliverables, it nevertheless reset Thailand's foreign policy projection on Myanmar amid more omnidirectional relations with the major powers.
Thorny ethics debate
Oped, Editorial, Published on 29/08/2024
» The nation's political parties are to kick off a process to seek amendments to the charter. The main focus is a clause regarding politicians' ethics and a law governing the dissolution of parties to prevent political upheavals.
In the modern era, who holds the right to truth?
Oped, Geoff Mulgan, Published on 28/08/2024
» Hardly a week goes by without a new piece of misinformation circulating online, from the freshet of conspiracy theories unleashed by the attempt on former US president Donald Trump's life to Elon Musk tweeting the far right's false claim that the United Kingdom has a two-tier policing policy. Truth is under attack, and people know it. According to a recent global survey conducted by the United Nations, more than 85% of respondents were worried about the impact of online disinformation.
Court image in the dock
Oped, Editorial, Published on 24/08/2024
» It is unusual for Thais to criticise courts and jurists. But such anxiety comes with good reason. Thai law levies hefty penalties on those found to be in contempt of court -- imprisonment of one to seven years and fines of 2,000-14,000 baht.
The rise and fall of Srettha Thavisin
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 20/08/2024
» While leaders come and go, they leave behind a legacy that can be mixed, varying from glory to ignominy. Only a few leave nothing much to remember. As for Thailand's 30th prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, it was cursory at best. Overall, it's a good case study on how pomposity and self-adulation affect leadership.
Tricky minefield lies ahead of PM
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 19/08/2024
» The astonishing speed with which Thailand's 31st prime minister was nominated, endorsed in the House of Representatives and approved by Royal Command would not have been achieved without the intervention by "you know who" at the Ban Chan Song La mansion in Thon Buri.
New party under siege
Oped, Editorial, Published on 13/08/2024
» Two days after the Constitutional Court disbanded the Move Forward Party (MFP) and banished its 11 executive committee members from politics for ten years, the remaining 143 MPs who survived the court's axe and some core party members promptly formed a new party -- the People's Party, selecting its new leader and a five-member executive committee.
Beware the court blip
News, Editorial, Published on 12/08/2024
» This week, politics will be particularly intense as the Constitutional Court is set to deliver its verdict on the case brought by 40 senators seeking to remove Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from office.
Uncharted territory and a case of déjà vu
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 09/08/2024
» Another dissolution of another election winner should feel old in Thai politics. But what happened to Move Forward Party is not just déjà vu but uncharted territory. Its dissolution fits a recurrent pattern of systematic subversion of democratic institutions in favour of autocratic preferences in disregard of the will of the majority. The Constitutional Court's breakup of Move Forward also breaks new ground that is increasingly taking centre stage in Thailand's political landscape.