• OPINION

  Potential tricks and results in Thai poll

  Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 12/05/2023

  » The fundamental risk in Thailand's election this Sunday is that ruling incumbents, spearheaded by coup-maker-cum-prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and underpinned by the powers-that-be, are headed for a big loss. Yet they are unlikely to go away without distortion, subversion, and confrontation, as has been the case in the recent past. Unless the poll results are clear and unassailable, it is likely that more funny business will be put in motion after the election.

• OPINION

  Done and emerging battles in Thai poll

  Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 28/04/2023

  » Thailand's poll-leading Pheu Thai Party (PTP) is fighting a war it has already won. Consequently, its pledged freebie of 10,000 baht in a digital wallet for Thai people is superfluous and unnecessary. As the populism war has run its course, a new battleground revolving around the reform and adjustment of traditional centres of power is emerging. The fight in this new battle, being led by the Move Forward Party (MFP), is likely to last into the foreseeable future as the next stage in Thailand's modernisation imperative in the 21st century.

• OPINION

  The fault line that polarises Thai politics

  Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 07/04/2023

  » With all of Thailand's contesting political parties lined up behind populist policy platforms ahead of the general election on May 14, it is not readily obvious what sets them apart.

• OPINION

  Referee agencies and old political tricks

  Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 31/03/2023

  » Almost three decades ago, Thai politics reached a critical threshold when public demands resulted in the establishment of a clutch of independent agencies to ensure the transparency and accountability of the political system and the stability and effectiveness of government.

• OPINION

  Prayut running down clock to aid UTN

  Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 03/03/2023

  » There is something odd about Thailand's upcoming election. By all indications, it is slated to take place on May 7. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has announced that he will soon dissolve the Lower House to set the poll in motion. But no such dissolution has yet been announced, while the end of parliament's four-year term falls on March 23. The ambiguous election-setting scene is portentous and telling for several reasons.

• OPINION

  The truth about Thai money politics

  Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 13/01/2023

  » As the election looms in Thailand, money politics returns with a vengeance.

• OPINION

  The politics of the term-limit wrangle

  Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 19/08/2022

  » Time is not on the side of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as various groups of people want to see the back of him. Now that he has survived the last of four no-confidence votes in parliament since the March 2019 election, many are pinning their hopes that the eight-year prime ministerial term limit will upend Gen Prayut's rule.

• OPINION

  US shoots itself in foot over Taiwan

  Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 05/08/2022

  » Even pro-democracy critics of China’s authoritarian ways would have to call United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan an undue provocation that ended up as a lose-lose outcome for all concerned, including the 82-year-old congresswoman. Everything about it was misguided and self-indulgent, designed for domestic consumption in the US rather than regional peace and security in Asia. The US, by way of Mrs Pelosi, has unnecessarily shot itself in the foot big time, leaving regional states and societies to deal with the consequences.

• OPINION

  Election-related agencies need overhaul

  Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 03/06/2022

  » In any respectable democratic system, a winning poll candidate who secured an overall majority of electoral support would take office with the earliest effect. Not in Thailand. When Chadchart Sittipunt trounced 29 rivals by gathering 1.38 million or 51% of the votes cast in Bangkok's gubernatorial election on May 22, the capital's electorate had to hold their breath in suspense to see whether and when the Election Commission (EC) would validate his runaway victory.

• OPINION

  Capital poll portends Thailand's rule

  Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 20/05/2022

  » Never has Bangkok's gubernatorial contest been so much about Thailand. The poll this Sunday is not just about how Bangkok will be run but how Thailand will be ruled. Beyond the usual grievances and issues that traditionally hang over Bangkokians' lives and livelihoods are larger forces at work. Whoever comes out on top will have much to say about the bigger national election that has to be held by this time next year.

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