Turbulent Thailand

24 October 2025
Vorapak Tanyawong, who resigned as Thailand's deputy finance minister on Oct. 22 after he and his wife were accused of fraud and involvement with scam groups.
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra emerged from the criminal court in Bangkok on Aug. 22 with a yellow tie and other royalist branding. He is currently serving a year in prison for exploiting medical loopholes to avoid proper incarceration previously. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Turbulent Thailand

Thaksin Shinawatra uses prison time to rebuild his party

Pheu Thai needs overhaul if former premier is ever to dominate politics again, analysts say

23 October 2025
Former Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, waves to supporters on Aug. 29, the day she was removed from office by the country's Constitutional Court.
Politics

Former PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra resigns as Pheu Thai Party chief

Opposition group 'needs to be transformed' ahead of next election, she says

22 October 2025
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrives at the Supreme Court in Bangkok on Sept. 9 ahead of its verdict. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Turbulent Thailand

Thailand's ex-leader Thaksin may teach English while in prison

Former PM requests community service, eyeing early release ahead of 2026 election

16 October 2025
Thailand's stubbornly high levels of household debt have hindered economic growth.
Economy

Thailand to buy $300m of bad household debt: finance chief

Stocks make biggest jump in eight months, of nearly 1%, after stimulus announcement

9 October 2025
Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul delivers the policy statements to the parliament in Bangkok on Sept. 29.
Turbulent Thailand

Anutin says Thailand plans debt support for individuals, SMEs

Prime minister's 1st policy statement offers slew of economic stimulus schemes

29 September 2025
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul arrives at Bhumjaithai Party headquarters in Bangkok on Sept. 7, his first day in office. 
Comment

What killed Thailand's grand coalition?

Thaksin-founded Pheu Thai Party might now play kingmaker in 3-way power struggle

28 September 2025
A deliberately set fire burns through farmland on the Thai-Cambodia border.  Crop-burning to clear land for the next planting cycle is a major contributor to haze across the Mekong Basin. (Photo by Anton L. Delgado)
Policy Asia

Thailand's political turmoil shrouds long-awaited law to tackle smog

Bill to cut haze from crop burning and forest fires left in limbo pending new election

26 September 2025
Thailand's new Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul received royal endorsement for his new cabinet on Sept. 19. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Turbulent Thailand

New Thai cabinet receives king's royal endorsement

Poll shows moderate support for PM Anutin's minority government

19 September 2025
Suphajee Suthumpun, who has resigned as Dusit Thani CEO to take up the government post of commerce minister, at a press conference in Bangkok on Sept. 12. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Travel & Leisure

CEO of Thailand's Dusit Thani resigns to become minister under Anutin

Son of late founder takes up top position at hotel group amid family feud

12 September 2025
Left to right: Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Shigeru Ishiba and K.P. Sharma Oli. These three prime ministers being forced to cut their terms short and step down shows the instability of Asia's "revolving-door" leadership. (Source photos by Suzu Takahashi, Koji Uema and Reuters)
12 September 2025
Anutin Charnvirakul leaves parliament on Sept. 5 after his election as Thailand's new prime minister: A looming election campaign is expected to impel his administration to try to build a quick record of achievements.
Policy Asia

New Thai PM Anutin in race against clock to impress voters

Policy differences with bigger parties may see Bhumjaithai focus on populist measures

12 September 2025
Anutin Charnvirakul arrives at Bhumjaithai Party headquarters in Bangkok for a news conference after receiving the royal endorsement to become Thailand's prime minister on Sept. 7. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Turbulent Thailand

New Thai PM plans revival of shopping stimulus to boost economy

Economist views Anutin's policies as 'short-term solutions' before promised election

11 September 2025
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrives at the Supreme Court in Bangkok on Sept. 9. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Turbulent Thailand

Thaksin Shinawatra to serve 1 year in prison, Thai Supreme Court rules

Verdict over his 6-month hospital stay deals another blow to Pheu Thai Party he founded

9 September 2025
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, pictured in August. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Turbulent Thailand

Thaksin Shinawatra returns to Thailand ahead of key court verdict

Former PM made a 12,000 km round trip on a private jet for a 'medical checkup'

8 September 2025
Anutin Charnvirakul participates in a ceremony on Sept. 7 in which he received royal endorsement to become Thailand's fourth prime minister in three years.
Turbulent Thailand

Thailand enters uncharted waters with rise of minority government

New Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has four months to win public support

8 September 2025
Thailand's new Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul speaks to reporters at the Bhumjaithai Party's headquarters in Bangkok on Sept. 7. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Turbulent Thailand

Thailand's new PM Anutin Charnvirakul vows to reduce cost of living

Bhumjaithai Party chief says his government will focus on economy in its limited time

7 September 2025
Bhumjaithai Leader Anutin Charnvirakul after he was elected Thailand's 32nd prime minister on Sept. 5. 
Turbulent Thailand

Anutin Charnvirakul elected Thailand's new prime minister

Bhumjaithai Party chief to lead the country, but not with a free hand

5 September 2025
Anutin Charnvirakul, pictured in August 2023.
Turbulent Thailand

Who is Thailand's new Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul?

Politician who led cannabis legalization rises to top job -- for 4 months

5 September 2025
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Podcast: News Roundup

Deadly protests in Indonesia and Thailand's political drama

Tune in to Nikkei Asia's podcast, bringing the region's key news to global listeners

5 September 2025
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra leaves criminal court in Bangkok on Aug. 22. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Turbulent Thailand

Thaksin Shinawatra leaves Thailand day before PM vote: local media

Former prime minister's move comes amid mounting challenges for his family

5 September 2025
Thailand's parliament consists of a lower chamber, the House of Representatives, and an upper chamber, the Senate. 
Turbulent Thailand

Thai lawmakers to elect PM on Friday despite dissolution call

Bhumjaithai's Anutin appears to have majority in pact with People's Party

4 September 2025
Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul shows the signed memorandum of understanding between his coalition parties and the People's Party at parliament in Bangkok, on Wednesday. The deal could enable Anutin to become the next Thai prime minister and lead to a general election within four months.
Turbulent Thailand

Thai acting prime minister seeks to dissolve parliament as rivals unite

People's Party agrees deal to enable Bhumjaithai to lead government

3 September 2025
Chaikasem Nitisiri, the Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidate, arrives at party headquarters on Sept. 2 as rival political camps vie to form the next government in the wake of the Constitutional Court's removal of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office.
Turbulent Thailand

Thailand's People's Party delays announcing prime minister pick

Lower house's largest party still deciding whether to back Pheu Thai or Bhumjaithai

2 September 2025
People shop for street food at a market in Ko Lan, near Pattaya in Thailand. The Thai economy has been buffeted this year by political upheaval, a border conflict with Cambodia, slowing tourism and global trade tensions. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Turbulent Thailand

Thailand's private sector worries about prolonged political uncertainty

Proposed deal to hold election may delay policy implementation, analysts warn

2 September 2025
Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, center, front, from the Pheu Thai Party, poses with representatives from ruling coalition partners during a news conference in Bangkok on Aug. 29. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Turbulent Thailand

Two Thai political blocs race for majority to elect next PM

Bhumjaithai seeks deal with People's Party to counter Pheu Thai coalition

30 August 2025
Dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra walks down the stairs in the Government House in Bangkok after the Constitutional Court ruled against her on Aug. 29. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Turbulent Thailand

Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra removed: What happens next?

Five things to know about the kingdom's leader selection process and political outlook

29 August 2025
Thailand's dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra speaks at a press conference at Government House after the Constitutional Court ruled against her on Aug. 29. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi) 
Turbulent Thailand

Thai court removes PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office

Judges said suspended leader 'lacked qualifications,' lower house will elect successor

29 August 2025
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra leaves the criminal court in Bangkok on Aug. 22. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Turbulent Thailand

Thai court dismisses Thaksin case, finds 'no evidence' of royal insult

Former prime minister faces another legal challenge next month

22 August 2025
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra speaks after Thailand's Constitutional Court suspended her from duty pending a case seeking her dismissal, at the Government House in Bangkok, on July 1. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Turbulent Thailand

Thai court ruling on Paetongtarn dismissal case set for Aug. 29

Decision to determine whether suspended prime minister will be removed

14 August 2025