Showing 1 - 10 of 15
Defections test government pact
Oped, Aekarach Sattaburuth and Mongkol Bangprapa, Published on 18/09/2025
» About 50 national and local politicians from the southern province of Chumphon on Wednesday defected from the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) to the Bhumjaithai Party (BJP), raising questions about whether the ruling party can still honour its agreement not to form a majority government.
Shifting alliances and fading juntas
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 11/01/2025
» Thai politics is currently undergoing significant change. The junta and its conservative network, which held a grip on politics over the last two decades, are fading from the scene. Now, we witness ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra making his political comeback as a relatively new player -- the Bhumjaithai Party wields its power over the Upper Chamber.
Competence needed
Oped, Postbag, Published on 06/09/2024
» Re: "New-look cabinet to set policy agenda", (BP, Sept 5).
Thaksin's comeback fuels media chaos
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 03/09/2024
» Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's return to the Thai political scene has sparked a frenzy across all media spectrums. Such a brouhaha is understandable. Thaksin is a political figure associated with multiple scandals, an ideal target for investigative journalists. Interestingly, this time around, the exposés are not coming from journos. Instead, they come from Thaksin's inner circle -- his close friends and former aides.
Thaksin reclaims political centre stage
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 24/08/2024
» As the Pheu Thai Party was busy forming a new cabinet, Thaksin Shinawatra re-consolidated his power in the blink of an eye. Few, if any, political observers would have imagined this phenomenon in almost two decades of colour-coded politics that saw Thaksin, for much of that time, living in self-imposed exile.
Ultra-right wing
Oped, Postbag, Published on 13/04/2023
» Re: "UTN leader stands up for patriotism, tells 'nation haters' to leave," (BP, April 9).
Prayut's future increasingly unclear
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 08/04/2023
» As the May 14 election countdown has begun, Pheu Thai continues to take a healthy lead, with a strong chance of winning a landslide or even an avalanche -- if it gets over 310 out of 500 seats.
Thailand's political charade exposed
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 27/01/2023
» On the face of it, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for eight years, has touted himself as "an outsider" who was above the political fray, seizing power in a military coup and taking top office to help Thailand in its hour of need amid debilitating protests and polarisation in 2013-14. Now that the general has thrown his hat in the ring under the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party locally known as "Ruam Thai Sang Chart" to contest the upcoming election, the charade is over.
PPRP's break-up all part of the 'plan'
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 19/11/2022
» When all the Apec summit formalities are over, it's likely Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha will make the uncertainty about his political future clearer, particularly over whether he will cut links with the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and align with the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party (RTSCP), recently set up by his close aides. One thing is clear, he has no plan to leave politics.
Chaiwut oversteps
Oped, Editorial, Published on 29/09/2022
» Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn is in hot water for his unbecoming remarks against anti-government protesters who plan to rally tomorrow, the day the Constitutional Court hands down a ruling on the fate of suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha after a petition by the opposition bloc.