Steve Suwannarat

The House of Representatives passed the “Act on Promoting a Peaceful Society”. Both royalists who led the 2008 protests and supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin who laid siege to downtown Bangkok are expected to benefit from this cross-party measure. Those convicted of the controversial crime of lèse-majesté are excluded.

Among the ASEAN countries, Thailand is the most reluctant to impose sanctions on Myanmar, where the general who led the coup five years ago has become president. This ambiguity also brings with it many uncertainties regarding the plight of the tens of thousands of Burmese refugees currently in the country. Meanwhile, Beijing has invited Min for a “state visit” next week.

The private sector’s main body has accused 10 public agencies of extortionist practices against businesses and ordinary Thais. The growing importance of foreign investment in the country's southern tourist resort areas may have played a role, but the corruption system has long been considered structural and involves bureaucracy, law enforcement, and politics.

Keeping a nationalist election promise made during the campaign, Anutin’s government has scrapped the 2001 agreement (which never got off the ground) for the joint exploitation of energy reserves in disputed maritime areas. This signals how tensions remain high despite the ceasefire in place since December. Cambodia is concerned about the intensification of Thai naval patrols.

New data released by Thailand shows that in some tributaries, arsenic concentrations caused by active mining operations exceed the limits set by guidelines. Civil society initiatives are calling for greater cooperation among the countries in the basin, as well as more concrete measures to halt the pollution.

The re-election of the incumbent prime minister marks an unprecedented development in Thai politics ruled over the past two decades by fragile governments and military intervention. Bhumjaithai won a majority and formed a broad coalition, at the expense of progressive movements and the demands of the younger generations. Tensions with Cambodia and the risk of economic stagnation remain in the background.

In a news release, the NGO denounces the conditions of the Muslim refugees from Myanmar’s Rakhine State. More than 5,000 are held in migrant detention centres. Since Malaysia never ratified the refugee convention, it does not formally recognise their status.

After Generation Z’s anti-corruption demonstrations in September 2025 led to the fall of KP Sharma Oli's government, the Himalayan country is set for an election campaign with an unprecedented mix of old parties and young candidates seeking radical change. Former King Gyanendra is also running with a pro-monarchist party, presenting himself as a guarantor of stability.

Defying predictions, the Bhumjaithai Party is leading in the seat count by a wide margin. Outgoing Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, a populist businessman who got a boost by the conflict with Cambodia, also won in Pheu Thai strongholds. The reformist People's Party, unable to reach beyond young voters and urban middle class, was defeated. A yes vote in the referendum opens to the way to changes to the military-imposed constitution.

At stake is not only who will lead the government, but also the possibility of rewriting the constitution imposed by the military in 2017. With the Shinawatra clan's Pheu Thai weakened, the battle appears to be between the reformists of the People's Party and the Bhumijaythai party led by incumbent Prime Minister Anutin, who seeks to capitalise on the nationalist wave sparked by the conflict with Cambodia. But the real challenge is the faltering economy.

Bangkok's currency continues to rise against the dollar: its value has risen by 8% since the beginning of the year, despite economic fundamentals that do not justify such a trend. With a political crisis effectively postponed until the early elections in 2026, there is a risk that speculative manoeuvres will further undermine exports (already struggling with Trump's tariffs) and tourism.

The Thai parliament's green light for the new prime minister after the judicial intervention on Paetongtarn Shinawatra replicated a pattern seen many times in Bangkok: the alliance between parties that are apparently irreconcilable in their programmes and leaders to oust their opponent. But the People's Party wants new elections within four months and the amendment of the Constitution used to undermine its electoral success in 2023.