Showing 1 - 10 of 36
50-party race comes down to just this
Oped, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 09/02/2026
» By the time this opinion piece goes into print, the unofficial outcome of Sunday's election will already have been announced by the Election Commission. Which of the two front-running parties, Bhumjaithai and the People's Party, has emerged the winner and earned the right to form the new government will also be known.
No easy road ahead for PP greenhorns
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 02/02/2026
» The latest opinion polls, conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) and Rajabhat University ahead of the general election on Sunday, have put the People's Party (PP) ahead of its rivals and its leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, as the most favoured prime ministerial candidate among voters.
Talking peace with a tyrant: Who'd do it?
Oped, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 25/08/2025
» Peace is a beautiful word. It is an ideal condition under which people of different countries, religious faiths, races, cultures and political views can co-exist happily, without having to fight with each other, without having to shed blood as being witnessed across the world from Ukraine in eastern Europe to Gaza and Yemen in the Middle East, and even along the Thai-Cambodian border before a ceasefire agreement was signed late last month.
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.
Safeguards needed for legal gambling
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 13/01/2025
» The government's dream of developing an integrated entertainment complex complete with a casino in Bangkok or on the eastern seaboard is facing hurdles after the Council of State last week raised an objection on the ground that such a megaproject is not relevant to the government's policy to promote a new form of tourism industry.
Court ruling emboldens Pheu Thai
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 25/11/2024
» The ruling Pheu Thai Party was given a big shot in the arm after the Constitutional Court dismissed allegations that the party and its de facto leader, Thaksin Shinawatra, attempted to overthrow the constitutional democracy.
Maritime woes land govt in hot water
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 11/11/2024
» On the surface, the political situation appears to be calm and the government is doing fine. Politically, if not economically, it enjoys a comfortable majority in the House, with the opposition People's Party performing its role half-heartedly. But a strong undercurrent is running underneath the surface like a time bomb waiting to explode if the government makes a faux pas.
Deck reshuffle carries risks for Thaksin
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 02/09/2024
» It was a classic case of killing two birds with one stone. That was the incorporation of the Democrats into the Pheu Thai-led coalition to substitute for the fragmented Palang Pracharath Party.
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.
'Chuvit Garden' plans face scrutiny
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 03/04/2023
» Many Bangkokians not living in the Sukhumvit area may not realise that there used to be a small park, named Chuvit Garden, at the entrance of Soi Sukhumvit 10.