Showing 1 - 10 of 21
EC must be ready for poll
Oped, Editorial, Published on 07/06/2024
» With its complex rules and unclear regulations, the Senate election is predicted to induce a major headache. Yet, the conundrum surrounding it is far beyond any expectations.
Move Forward case reveals autocracy
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 07/06/2024
» The Constitutional Court's announcement that it will consider the Move Forward Party's (MFP) written defence in its dissolution case on June 12 appears ominous. After several attempts to make its argument that a campaign pledge to amend the lese majeste law against royal insult is not tantamount to "overthrowing Thailand's democratic regime with the King as head of state", the party's time is up. As the biggest election winner in May 2023, the MFP's dissolution is perceived as a foregone conclusion. Such a revelation might risk Thailand being perceived as an autocratic regime based on legal manoeuvres, and power plays that do not derive from voter preferences.
A turbulent time for govt
Oped, Editorial, Published on 06/06/2024
» Winning an election and forming a coalition is one thing; running a country, another. After nine months at Government House, the Srettha Thavisin government finds itself struggling to fulfil its campaign promises. Tough issues -- such as the charter rewrite, boosting tourism, the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme and the sluggish economy -- remain a fierce challenge.
Respect 'laws of nature'
Oped, Editorial, Published on 05/06/2024
» Today marks World Environment Day, initiated in 1973 by the United Nations Environment Programme to create a global platform aimed at inspiring positive change.
India's exit polls may be more noise than signal
News, Andy Mukherjee, Published on 04/06/2024
» Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set for a landslide victory in India's general election. Or so claims nearly every exit poll released since the end of voting on Saturday evening. Yet, these surveys have proved spectacularly wrong in the past, and they must be read even more cautiously this time around because of the Modi government's outsize sway on the television stations that commission them.
Defeat symbolises normalisation
News, Published on 03/06/2024
» Last Thursday, a television news crew made its way to former South African president Jacob Zuma's homestead, an ugly monstrosity controversially built at a cost of 250 million rand (500 million baht) of taxpayers' money, in his rural village of Nkandla. The crew got to interview Zuma after midnight. At about 2am, the crew watched in amazement as a genial Zuma, aged 82, welcomed a delegation of French diplomats into his living room for a meeting.
Curious case of Sunak's snap election decision
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 01/06/2024
» 'Why did he do it? We were all told it would be the autumn and we were hoping by then we could turn things around. It is very perplexing," said a former cabinet minister after Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a surprise election for July 4.
City needs to do more
Oped, Editorial, Published on 30/05/2024
» Halfway into his term as city governor, Chadchart Sittipunt still rates himself a five out of 10, which is the same as last year's self-appraisal. Judging from that, we can only hope there is room for improvement.
What explains BJP's stellar rise?
Oped, Published on 29/05/2024
» India, with 968 million eligible voters, is currently holding the largest exercise of democratic rights in the world. Elections are being held in India from April 19 to June 1, and the results will be declared next Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- the world's largest political party -- is widely expected to win.
Pheu Thai loses its mojo
Oped, Editorial, Published on 28/05/2024
» The latest public opinion poll by the King Prajadhipok Institute is just another survey showing the atrophy of the Pheu Thai Party.