Thai Elections

Thai tycoon makes marijuana promise if elected PM

Tycoon Anutin Charnvirakul is causing a splash in Thailand’s general election by campaigning for the legalisation of household marijuana cultivation, a populist policy that could help him become prime minister.His Bhum Jai Thai party would let households grow up to six cannabis plants, Anutin said in an interview, enabling people to supplement their incomes by earning as much as US$2,200 per kilogram of the crop.

12 March 2019

Thais might still want Prayut as PM

Late last year, the media was buzzing with news of another possible coup should Thailand return to democracy.

4 March 2019

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

Unpredictable politics in Thailand

Thailand was recently taken by surprise when news broke that its princess, Ubolratana Rajakanya, had been announced as prime ministerial candidate for the Thai Raksa Chart Party – a party reportedly affiliated to Thaksin Shinawatra.

12 February 2019

Can the Future Forward Party shift Thai politics?

The upcoming Thai election has got everyone excited. Everyday there are new twists and turns in the unfolding drama. Most recently, the elder sister of Thailand's king Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya was announced as leader and Prime Minister candidate for the Thai Raksa Chart Party – a party reportedly affiliated to Thaksin Shinawatra.

9 February 2019

Politicos register for Thailand election

Hundreds of aspiring politicians, including a masked costumed hero, registered on Monday for Thailand's first election since the 2014 coup, promising a colourful cast of candidates stumping for political parties both, old and new.Since the coup, the military has rewritten the constitution, clamped down on dissent and appointed allies across the bureaucracy.But recent days have seen echoes of Thailand's formerly rambunctious politics, with outdoor political announcements, campaign po

5 February 2019

Helping the poor for political gain?

Last week, local reports in Thailand revealed that about 600,000 students considered to be “very poor” will soon receive an extra US$24 per semester from the state, as the Equitable Education Fund (EEF) is stepping in to help reduce educational disparities.

18 December 2018