The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has sent an urgent letter to the government advising it to downsize the “digital wallet” scheme by only providing the 10,000 baht benefit to about 15 million so-called “financially fragile” people, instead of the 50 million people as currently planned. This would enable the plan to be implemented immediately and would only cost 150 billion baht, according to the BoT. The government has, however, shrugged off the central bank’s last-minute call, saying that there is nothing new in its recommendations. The central bank reasoned that these “fragile” people, who include ..read more

The cabinet approved an ad hoc committee proposal today that three referenda will be held to approve a new Constitution, which is yet to be drafted, with the first set to be held between July 21 and August 21. Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said that, in the first referendum, the electorate will be asked “Do you agree with the drafting of a new Constitution that will leave Chapter 1 and 2 of the current charter, concerning general provisions and the monarchy respectively, intact?” The first plebiscite is expected to cost about 3.2 billion baht, said Chai, adding that the electorate ..read more

The application deadline for those interested in running in the Senate election is set for May 13, three days after the current senators complete their terms. Today, the Cabinet agreed to the timeline for the election, which has been criticised as being overly complex as proposed by the Election Commission (EC), and an additional 227 million baht from the Central Fund for the EC to stage the Senate elections on top of about Bt1.2 billion allocated to the EC for the election purposes, said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Twenty professional groups are eligible to apply for candidacy. These inc ..read more

The Move Forward party is leading the Pheu Thai party by a wide margin in terms of popularity, especially among people aged under 20 and those aged 20-29, although the majority say they will not vote for either of the two parties in the next election, according to Super Poll. Meanwhile, a NIDA Poll shows 39.4% of respondents reject the claim that Pheu Thai is the leader of change, while 18.85% say they don’t believe in Pheu Thai either, compared to 33,67% who believe Pheu Thai is the leader of change in Thai society. The Super Poll Research Centre gauged the opinions of 1,154 people in various ..read more

Thailand’s triangular political equilibrium rests on many things, and one of the most important foundations can be the most unpredictable. Thaksin Shinawatra, wielding one of the country’s biggest political influences according to an opinion poll, spawns theories. The first is what “appears” to be publicly but is gaining skepticism left and right. In the first theory, he is sincere about stepping away from politics, about giving political advice to the Pheu Thai-led government from time to time, about helping the Shinawatra grownups maintain relevance in Thai politics as long as that does not ..read more

The Palang Pracharath party will play host for a joint meeting of coalition parties this month, but the event has nothing to do with a cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told the media today. The first meeting of coalition parties was hosted by the Pheu Thai party, with the second hosted by the Bhumjaithai party. Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan, the advisory chief of Palang Pracharath party, is yet to set the date for the next gathering, said the prime minister, as he dismissed media speculation that a cabinet reshuffle would be discussed. As head of the government, Srettha said ..read more

The Constitutional Court has agreed to give the Move Forward party another 15 days to present evidence in its defence against an application, by the Election Commission, seeking the dissolution of the party and banishment of its executive committee members from politics for 10 years, on charges of attempting to overthrow the country’s Constitutional Monarchy. Earlier, the court gave until April 18 for the presentation of its defence, but the party asked for an extension to May 3. The Constitutional Court has already found the party guilty of attempting to overthrow Constitutional Monarchy for ..read more

Former Move Forward party leader Pita Limjaroenrat told his supporters in the north-eastern province of Khon Kaen today that this Songkran may be his last as a member of parliament, because of the grim prospect that the party may be dissolved by the Constitutional Court. He said that about a month from now will be the most difficult period for the party and himself, but he vowed that the new party, to be formed should the verdict go against them, will win a landslide in the next election. Pita has been on a campaign tour in Nong Khai, Udon Thani and Khon Kaen for the past three days, including ..read more

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will hold talks with leaders of coalition parties to discuss a cabinet reshuffle, noting that it is necessary to make adjustments in line with the changing situation after about seven months in office and to make sure that the right people are in the right jobs. The prime minister said that there is no fixed timeframe as towhen the cabinet reshuffle will take place, adding that all coalition parties will be consulted and treated with respect. He also said that, at this stage, it remains unknown whether the shakeup will be limited or extensive, which depends on s ..read more

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra jokingly told Pheu Thai party’s ministers that he could hold a cabinet meeting in Chiang Mai today, because there were 18 of them attending a dinner with him. Among the Pheu Thai ministers in attendance this evening were Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Deputy Transport Ministers Manaporn Charoensri and Surapong Piyachote, Deputy Agriculture Minister Chaiya Promma. Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, Digital Economy and Society Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawa ..read more