Showing 1 - 10 of 11
The old guard retains its grip, for now
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 15/07/2023
» The failure of Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat to gain enough support in his bid for the premiership is neither surprising nor unexpected, given the coordinated efforts of the conservative camp to block the young leader.
Blast from the past Thaksin eyes power
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 12/03/2022
» As Thai politics is about to take another turn, with the next election on the horizon, fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is making a stir by vowing to stage a comeback.
Censure debate is govt's toughest test yet
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 28/08/2021
» The forthcoming no-confidence debate is set to be the toughest challenge posed by the opposition bloc against the Prayut Chan-o-cha government.
Anti-govt protesters must avoid violence
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 14/08/2021
» Thailand has witnessed a rise of violence in a series of clashes over the past weeks between anti-Prayut Chan-o-cha government protesters and riot control police that have resulted in injuries on both sides.
In our politics, time really can stand still
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 13/02/2021
» A number of political developments, ie the waning pro-reform movement and the major loss of the Move Forward Party in local elections, may have given the Prayut Chan-o-cha government and the Palang Pracharath Party such a false sense of confidence that they feel they can now move to delay the process of rewriting the constitution.
New charter may not be democratic
News, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 10/12/2020
» Today marks Thailand's Constitution Day, arguably one of the most forgotten political dates in national history.
Charter rewrite backtracking a mistake
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 26/09/2020
» A political crisis seems unavoidable after politicians in the government coalition and the military-appointed Senate colluded in a charter rewrite vote which, in effect, slows down the rewrite process by another month.
Cracks forming among opposition allies
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 29/08/2020
» Now is a turbulent time, not only for the government, which has encountered a plethora of challenges, for example the student rallies and the economic downturn, but also for the opposition bloc with regard to widening divisions between two major parties -- Pheu Thai and Move Forward -- as they compete for the leading role in the students' pro-democracy rallies.
A reshuffle must be in the public interest
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 20/06/2020
» Even if Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha makes it loud and clear he does not want to reshuffle the cabinet, the ongoing political turbulence will likely force him to rejig the portfolios, and that will likely occur very soon. Observers believe it could happen within a month.
Army boss eyeing path to premiership?
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 26/10/2019
» It’s now more than evident that army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong has become a key actor in the country’s post-coup politics. His actions over the past few months have stirred speculation about his intentions: Does he have ambitions to become the next prime minister?