Thaksin Shinawatra
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, youngest daughter of former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra

Thaksin's Daughter Takes Shinawatra Brand To Thais

She has half a million followers on Instagram, leads a glamorous lifestyle and describes herself as the "little girl" of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra – one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern Thai history.The 35-year-old Paetongtarn Shinawatra, youngest of billionaire tycoon Thaksin's three children, is now launching herself into the country's deeply divided political scene ahead of a national election due by March 2023.The move brings the Shin

13 June 2022
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Thailand set for a pro-junta government

Thailand’s official election results due this week are set to boost a push by a pro-military party to form a governing coalition, unless an imminent court ruling complicates the picture.The party, Palang Pracharath, is a proxy for the military government and is duelling for power with an anti-junta alliance.

7 May 2019
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Thai King strips ex-PM Thaksin of royal title

The King of Thailand has revoked the royal decorations of billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, citing his conviction and "extremely inappropriate" flight from the country, according to an announcement published Saturday.The statement in the Royal Gazette from King Maha Vajiralongkorn comes almost a week after the country held its first election since a military coup in 2014 installed a royalist junta.Pheu Thai, a political party linked to Thaksin, is now jostling with the junt

31 March 2019
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The enemy of my enemy

It’s now mere weeks away until Thailand’s long-awaited general elections take place on 24 March 2019. The date was set by the Election Commission on 23 January 2019, only hours after a royal decree was issued authorising the poll.

2 March 2019
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Thai Junta chief's bid for PM still intact

Junta chief Prayut Chan-o-cha's grip on power was tossed into doubt by the political cameo of a princess, but a week later his ambitions to rebrand as a civilian leader appear back on track, a survivor – for now – of Thailand's treacherous politics.Princess Ubolratana's candidacy for premier for a party aligned with billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, appeared to have kicked over a totem of Thai politics: that the military alone is the unassailable partner of the monarch

16 February 2019
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Thaksin turns campaign to Thai economy

Allies of Thailand’s exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra are seeking to woo voters with a plan to revive economic growth after a failed bid to run King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s sister as a prime minister candidate in next month’s election.Kittiratt Na Ranong, a former finance minister and deputy leader of Pheu Thai – one of several parties backed by Thaksin along with Thai Raksa Chart – said his colleagues are “going forward in full gear” ahead of the 24 March vote.

13 February 2019
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Thai royal named candidate for PM

Thailand’s Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya has been named the prime ministerial candidate for a party linked to former premier Thaksin Shinawatra in one of the country’s biggest political upheavals.Ubolratana will be the prime ministerial candidate for the Thai Raksa Chart Party in the 24 March general election, its leader Preechaphol Pongpanit said Friday in Bangkok.

8 February 2019
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Thai junta lifts ban on political campaigning

Thailand's junta on Tuesday lifted a four-year ban on political campaigning ahead of 2019 elections, prompting Thaksin Shinawatra - the exiled billionaire who sits at the heart of the kingdom's political rupture - to hail a "new hope" for the nation.

12 December 2018
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Are the Shinawatras planning a comeback?

Recent news reports have revealed that the relatives and allies of ousted Thai prime ministers Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, have formed a new political party – the Thai Raksa Chart Party.

10 November 2018
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Thai premier sees elections early next year

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha said his military government is committed to holding an election early next year, and that he may clarify his political future in September.The pending coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn won’t affect the plan for a poll possibly in February, Prayuth said in an interview.

22 June 2018
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Will Thailand legalise marijuana?

In the past couple of weeks there has been talk regarding the legalising of marijuana cultivation for medicinal purposes in Thailand. Based on local news reports, both legislators and state officials have been voicing either their support or disdain towards this issue. However, until today there has been no confirmation regarding the possible legalising of marijuana cultivation.

23 January 2018
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