Showing 1 - 10 of 437
Implications of conservative triumph
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 13/02/2026
» The incumbent and conservative Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party has surprisingly swept Thailand's Feb 8 election with a commanding win. With the previously poll-leading and progressive People's Party (PP) coming in a distant second, Thailand appears headed for a conservative coalition government revolving around BJT and like-minded junior partners. Known for its conservative stance and being pro-status quo, it would not be surprising if the BJT-led coalition government, led by Prime Minister-elect Anutin Charnvirakul, were not challenged by the Constitutional Court, the Election Commission, and other supervisory agencies, which have derailed and dissolved reform-minded winning parties in the past.
Next government won't be a grey one
Oped, Nattaya Chetchotiros, Published on 12/02/2026
» The formula for the new government will be an amalgamation of three colours -- navy blue representing the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), red symbolising Pheu Thai (PT), and light blue, the colour code of the Democrat Party.
Will poll be breakout or more of same?
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 06/02/2026
» As Thais go to the polls this Sunday, the most consequential question is whether Thailand will finally break out of its debilitating cycle of political instability and economic underperformance that has marked the past two decades. The signs and signals suggest otherwise -- at least not yet.
School bus safety ignored
Oped, Editorial, Published on 05/02/2026
» In January alone, there were eight school bus accidents, the Thailand Consumer Council says -- a prominent civic group campaigning for school bus safety. These incidents claimed one life and injured 122 others, yet they were treated as snippet news that drew little public attention.
Decriminalising sex work needs clarity
Oped, Poramet Tangsathaporn, Published on 04/02/2026
» The world's oldest profession has always been a taboo subject in Thai society, even in our politics so it was encouraging to see at least five political parties -- the Pheu Thai Party, the People's Party, the Movement Party, the Thai Sang Thai Party, and the Democrat Party -- agree that the current Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539 (1996) needs to be repealed.
Three main parties and two directions
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 16/01/2026
» Although Thailand's election campaign is reaching fever pitch ahead of voting day on Feb 8, the dynamics and contours of its final outcome can be gleaned from past polls over the last 25 years. Only once in January 2001, as was indicated in this space last week, were voter results fully honoured and carried out. Other elections were either upended by military coups or manipulated by judicial interventions.
Poll perils persist
Oped, Editorial, Published on 15/01/2026
» As the election campaign intensifies ahead of the Feb 8 poll, a number of education outlets as well as media channels are churning out opinion survey results suggesting the popularity ratings of individual candidates.
Dark horse, deep state in upcoming polls
Oped, Nattaya Chetchotiros, Published on 15/01/2026
» The national election may be 20 days away, yet political analysts are already reading the tea leaves. Surprisingly, their predictions point in the same direction -- the next coalition could be a surprising mix of the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), Pheu Thai and -- hold your breath -- the Democrat Party.
Swing voters poised to decide Feb 8 poll
News, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 10/01/2026
» As the country edges closer to the new election, the public mood appears markedly different from last time, with a large proportion of eligible voters saying they remain undecided about which party to support.
Thailand's political trajectory in 2026
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 09/01/2026
» What happens in Thai politics this year and the immediate horizon will be determined by the upcoming election on Feb 8. While contesting political parties are in full campaign mode, the contemporary history of Thai polls so far in the 21st century is not encouraging. Only once in the past 25 years have voting results went the way they were meant to, in accordance with the popular will. Whether the vote in four weeks will follow the same pattern will depend on whether the conservative establishment gets its preferred outcome.