Showing 1 - 10 of 52
Conflicts of interest worsen crisis
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 06/04/2026
» Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn's resignation as head of the committee handling the oil crisis caused by the war in the Middle East has spared him from public criticism over a potential conflict of interest linked to his family's oil trading business.
Testing times could prove govt mettle
Oped, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 09/03/2026
» A honeymoon period seems out of the question for the new administration led by the Bhumjaithai Party, which may come into office in late April or May, depending on how quickly the processes of electing the House Speaker and his two deputies, and the election of the prime minister in parliament, take place.
SAO collapse probe shreds reputations
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 21/04/2025
» Out of the blue and rather belatedly, former auditor-general Phisit Leelavachiropas offered a ridiculous apology over the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in Chatuchak district, saying he was sorry for using feng shui in his selection of the building's location.
Medical Council can't let public down
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 07/04/2025
» Kudos to Tul Sitthisomwong, a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and a member of the Medical Council of Thailand for having the courage to voice his disagreement with the council's decision last Friday to postpone consideration of its subcommittee's findings on former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's treatment for suspicious "life-threatening" illnesses at the Police General Hospital.
Govt keen to dangle debt relief
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 24/03/2025
» Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's recent idea to solve the problem of non-performing loans (NPLs) in the household debt sector is just a further extension of two similar programmes introduced by a previous Pheu Thai-led government to ease the financial burden of small debtors and SMEs.
DSI considers all-out war with Senate
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 24/02/2025
» The sound of beating war drums is getting louder as the Justice Ministry and its sidekick, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), go on the warpath against the Senate -- the first confrontation of its kind -- over allegations that the senatorial election last June was fraught with collusion and bloc voting.
Thaksin vies for top spot with PM
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 27/01/2025
» You can call Thaksin Shinawatra a former prime minister and de facto leader of the Pheu Thai Party and, lately, also de facto prime minister, as you wish -- because none of those names are wrong. It would, however, be fiercely denied by the guardians of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who insist she is still in charge of the government and running the country.
Kingdom's top cops set poor example
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 24/06/2024
» The handling of the bitter feud between two heavyweights of the Royal Thai Police, Torsak Sukivimol and Surachate Hakparn, aka Big Joke, by a prime minister-appointed committee led by Chatchai Promlert is typical of a Thai style of conflict resolution that reflects the "mai pen rai" and "forget about it" attitude, despite the core issue being the integrity and honesty of the two officers.
Senators send the 'old man' a warning
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 27/05/2024
» It was a close call. Five against four was the vote by the nine Constitutional Court judges when they decided not to suspend Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from performing his duties after they voted 6:3 to accept for consideration the petition of 40 senators demanding the removal of the prime minister for allegedly violating ethical standards in appointing Phichit Chuenban as PM's Office Minister.
Who's directing behind the scenes?
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 13/05/2024
» The speechwriter who wrote the speech delivered by Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra at the party meeting on May 3 did a lousy job which consequently put her in hot water.