Politics

Tourists dressed in traditional Thai costumes visit Wat Arun temple in Bangkok on Jan. 18.
Economy

Thai GDP grows 2.7% as next government seen focusing on economy

Q1 figures released day after election reveal rising consumption, weak exports

15 May 2023
Move Forward supporters cheer at the party's headquarters in Bangkok as the election results show its strong performance. (Photo by Adryel Talamantes)
Thai election

Move Forward and Pheu Thai pull ahead in Thai election

As counting progresses into Monday, coalition talks expected

15 May 2023
Voters cast ballots at a polling station in Bangkok on May 14. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thais head to polls to elect next government

Opposition parties lead pro-military camp in latest surveys

14 May 2023
Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Srettha Thavisin of Pheu Thai party greet supporters during an election rally in Bangkok on May 12. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

In pictures: Election enthusiasm sweeps Thailand

Prime ministerial candidates meet voters in lower-house campaign

13 May 2023
From left, Prawit Wongsuwan, Pita Limjaroenrat, Paetongtarn Shinawatra (top), Srettha Thavisin, and Prayuth Chan-ocha (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thai parties stoke hope and fear in final election pitch

Main opposition Pheu Thai confirms Srettha Thavisin as top PM candidate

13 May 2023
Pheu Thai's Srettha Thavisin and supporters at a Chiang Mai rally on May 10: "We want a big statement win," Srettha says. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thaksin stronghold transforms into Thai opposition battleground

Pheu Thai seeks to defend north against Move Forward challenge

12 May 2023
The most exciting development in the final stretch of the Thai election campaign has been the rapid rise of the Move Forward Party and its leader, Pita Limchareonrat. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Opinion

The real contest in Thailand is between opposition parties

Move Forward to face dilemma on compromising its goals for share of power

12 May 2023
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha poses during a campaign rally in Bangkok in April. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thai election a referendum on military role in politics

Stakes high, but insiders say chance of new coup slim in short term

11 May 2023
Leaders of ASEAN countries pose for photos during the opening of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on May 10.
Economy

ASEAN's patchy economic growth suggests long road to recovery

At regional summit, leaders discuss how to push bloc past COVID pains

10 May 2023
Polling stations will open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. on May 14. (Source photos by Kosaku Mimura and Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thai vote Sunday offers chance for change: Five things to know

Divided pro-democracy camp aims to overcome leaders tied to military coup

10 May 2023
Thailand's prime ministerial election has provided fodder for both policy wonks and fashion watchers. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Ken Kobayashi; Bhumjaithai party, Move Forward party via Line)
Tea Leaves

In Thai elections, flaunting wealth is a winner

Candidates sport luxury watches and designer shoes to push populist policies on campaign trail

10 May 2023
Sex workers rally in Bangkok on May 1, Labor Day, to demand legalization of their industry.  (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand's sex workers hope election will change their lives

Rights groups lobby political parties on bill to decriminalize industry

10 May 2023
A protester in Bangkok in late 2021 flashes the three-finger salute that has become a symbol of resistance in demonstrations across Asia. There are signs of a potential resurgence in protests in Thailand, especially if national election results are perceived to be undemocratic.
Thai election

Thai youth takes creative defiance into election

Protest movement gears up for May 14 poll, but many doubt its likely impact

9 May 2023
Major Thai parties' populist election promises could result in spending of more than 500 billion baht under the next government.
Thai election

Thailand election handout pledges risk debt pileup, experts say

Central bank governor warns spending could lead to great 'side effects'

9 May 2023
Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, left, and Pheu Thai's Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Cooperation between their two parties appears critical to a change of government in Thailand. (Photos by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thai opposition Move Forward gains ground as election nears

Anti-military policies bring party near top opposition Pheu Thai in polls

8 May 2023
Election posters on display in Bangkok ahead of polls on May 14, when more than 52m Thais will cast their votes to elect 400 constituent MPs and 100 party MPs to the lower house. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Your Week in Asia

Australia budget, ASEAN summit, Thailand and Turkey elections

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

7 May 2023
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha greets a supporter in Bangkok's Chinatown on April 20. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Prayuth's new party courts Thai voters with pledge of stability

Prime minister's economic czar takes stock of nine-year legacy

1 May 2023
As Thai election campaigns move into high gear, revised election rules add to the importance of delivering votes in rural constituencies. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand's rural political leaders move center stage in election

Revised constituency rules add weight to provincial vote influencers

30 April 2023
Pita Limjaroenrat, the Move Forward Party's candidate for prime minister, holds a rally in Bangkok on April 22. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Move Forward leader Pita vows to bring 'good politics' to Thailand

Progressive opposition party chases win for ballots over bullets in May 14 vote

28 April 2023
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on the campaign trail in Bangkok on April 20: His United Thai Nation Party is trailing in the polls. (Photo by Kenya Akama)
Opinion

Thai election offers chance to break through reform logjam

Machinations to preserve prerogatives of old order will only bring more decay

25 April 2023
Thailand led Southeast Asia in domestic listings last year with 42 initial public offerings. But it lags far behind Hong Kong and Singapore in foreign listings.(Source photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Markets

Thai election makes investment tax policies a hot issue

Investors turn bullish on debates over transaction and capital gains taxes

24 April 2023
Election posters in Bangkok on April 19: A total of 500 seats in the lower house are up for grabs. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thai opposition maintains lead in election race, latest polls find

Prime Minister Prayuth's party lags behind Pheu Thai, Move Forward

21 April 2023
While Thais enjoyed the five-day Songkran weekend, Srettha Thavisin was busy campaigning along the southwest coast in a red shirt typical for Pheu Thai supporters. (Photo by Francesca Regalado)
Thai election

Thai property tycoon Srettha eyes promotion to prime minister

Pheu Thai party would prioritize trade agreements with EU, Africa, Middle East

19 April 2023
Pheu Thai's prime minister candidates, from left, Chaikasem Nitsiri, Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Srettha Thavisin, attend a rally at Thunderdome Stadium in Nonthaburi Province on April 5. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand's largest opposition faces dissolution fears after election

Pheu Thai accused of violating election laws as it gains support

17 April 2023
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan of the ruling Palang Pracharath party and Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the opposition Pheu Thai Party -- a daughter of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra -- are among those in the running for prime minister. (Photos by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thaksin-backed opposition eyes coalition with Thai ruling party

Pheu Thai seen likely to fall short of enough seats in May election to form a government

14 April 2023