Focus on the BIG picture.
Saturday, Apr 25, 2026

A summary of the latest 10 most important news from Thailand, May 15, 2023

Thai opposition crushes military parties in election; UTN thanks Southern voters for poll support; Polish man arrested for murder of Ukrainian girlfriend; Singapore eases egg-freezing rules as births hit record low; 'Dark horse' wins 2 seats in Ubon Ratchathani; Cambodia poll body disqualifies sole opposition party from July election; Baht gains as Move Forward leads vote, tycoon-linked stocks drop; Senators want pro-monarchy Prime Minister; Thai economy grows 2.7% in first quarter; World Bank cuts Thailand's growth forecast.


1. Thai opposition crushes military parties in election.

The opposition Pheu Thai Party and its allies won a landslide victory in Thailand's general election, ousting the ruling Palang Pracharath Party. Pheu Thai won 258 seats in the 500-seat House of Representatives, while Palang Pracharath won only 92 seats. The results are a major setback for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who came to power in a 2014 coup.

2. UTN thanks Southern voters for poll support.

The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), or "Red Shirts," won 12 seats in the election, all of them in the southern provinces. The UDD is a populist movement that has been critical of the military government. In a statement, UDD leader Jatuporn Promphan thanked voters in the south for their support.

3. Polish man arrested for murder of Ukrainian girlfriend.

A Polish man has been arrested in Thailand for the murder of his Ukrainian girlfriend. The man, who has not been named, allegedly strangled his girlfriend to death in their hotel room in Bangkok. The body was found by hotel staff on May 14.

4. Singapore eases egg-freezing rules as births hit record low.

Singapore has eased its rules on egg freezing, in a move to help women who want to delay having children. The new rules allow women to freeze their eggs up to the age of 45, and to store them for up to 10 years. The move comes as Singapore's birth rate has hit a record low.

5. 'Dark horse' wins 2 seats in Ubon Ratchathani.

An independent candidate has won two seats in the Thai election, in a surprise upset. The candidate, who has not been named, is a former soldier who ran on a platform of anti-corruption and reform. His victory is seen as a sign of growing public dissatisfaction with the political establishment.

6. Cambodia poll body disqualifies sole opposition party from July election.

The Cambodian National Election Committee has disqualified the sole opposition party from the July 2023 election. The Committee said that the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) had failed to meet the requirements for registration. The CNRP has accused the government of rigging the election.

7. Baht gains as Move Forward leads vote, tycoon-linked stocks drop.

The Thai baht has gained against the US dollar after the opposition Move Forward Party led the vote in the general election. The baht was trading at 33.60 to the dollar on May 15, up from 33.70 on May 14. Shares of tycoon-linked companies have fallen in the wake of the election results.

8. Senators want pro-monarchy Prime Minister.

A group of senators has called for a pro-monarchy prime minister to be appointed after the general election. The senators said that the next prime minister should be someone who will "uphold the monarchy and the constitution." The call comes amid concerns about the future of the monarchy after the election results.

9. Thai economy grows 2.7% in first quarter.

Thailand's economy grew 2.7% in the first quarter of 2023, up from 1.8% in the fourth quarter of 2022. The growth was driven by strong exports and tourism. The government is forecasting growth of 3.5% for the full year.

10. World Bank cuts Thailand's growth forecast.

The World Bank has cut its growth forecast for Thailand in 2023 to 3.2%, from 3.8% previously. The Bank said that the cut was due to the war in Ukraine and the rising cost of living. The Bank also warned that Thailand's economy could be hit by a slowdown in China.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Inside the Gates Foundation Turmoil: Layoffs, Scrutiny, and the Cost of Reputational Risk
UK Biobank Breach Exposes Health Data of 500,000, Listed for Sale on Chinese Platform
White House Accuses China of Mass AI Model Extraction Campaign
KPMG Cuts Around 10% of US Audit Partners After Failed Exit Push
French Police Probe Suspected Weather-Data Tampering After Unusual Polymarket Bets on Paris Temperatures
Crypto Scammers Capitalize on Maritime Chaos Near the Strait of Hormuz: A Rising Threat to Shipping Companies
Changi Airport: How Singapore Engineered the World’s Most Efficient Travel Experience
Is Meta Transforming AI Development or Normalizing Workplace Surveillance? The Intersection of Technology, Labor, and Ethics
Power Dynamics: Apple’s Leadership Shakeup, Geopolitical Risks in the Strait of Hormuz, and Europe's Energy Strategy Amidst Global Challenges
Apple's Leadership Transition: Can New CEO John Ternus Navigate AI Challenges and Geopolitical Pressures?
Italy’s €100K Tax Gambit: Europe’s Soft Power Tax Haven
Budapest latest News Roundup
Travel on all public transport in the Australian state of Victoria will be free in May and then half price for the remainder of this year as the government ramps up help for consumers battling high fuel costs
News Roundup
Microsoft lost 2.5 millions users (French government) to Linux
Privacy Problems in Microsoft Windows OS
News Roundup
News roundup
Péter András Magyar and the Strategic Reset of Hungary
Hungary After the Landslide — A Strategic Reset in Europe
Starmer and Trump Hold Strategic Talks on Securing Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions
James Blair Weighs Temporary Exit from White House to Support Trump Political Efforts
White House Engagement With Indiana Senate Candidate Revealed Through Calls and Messages
White House Staff Advised Against Betting on Prediction Markets in Internal Warning
Vatican Official Notes Unusual Nature of Cardinal’s Pentagon Meeting
Democratic Party Faces Funding Shortfall Despite Anticipated Post-Election Boost
Trump Confronts Inflation Surge Linked to Iran Conflict as Markets React
Non-Compete Ban in Washington State Sparks Optimism and Debate Across Tech Sector
Plans Unveiled for 250-Foot Monumental Arch in Washington Reflecting Trump’s Vision
US Negotiators Set to Press Iran for Release of Detained Americans
Strategic Saudi-Bahrain Causeway Closed Amid Security Concerns as Trump Deadline Approaches
Saudi Shift Away from Longstanding Dollar Oil Framework Gains Attention Amid Iran Conflict
Starmer Voices Frustration as Global Tensions Drive Up UK Energy Costs
Australia Emphasizes Rule of Law in Shifting Global Landscape as Trump Era Reshapes Geopolitics
Melania Trump Issues White House Statement Rejecting Allegations and Reaffirming Integrity
George Clooney Responds to White House Remarks Amid Political and Cultural Exchange
White House Highlights New Ballroom as Key Security Enhancement for Presidential Operations
Easter Message from USDA Secretary Sparks Internal Debate Over Workplace Communication
Washington Adjusts Tax Structure with Rollbacks Amid Introduction of Income Tax
Israel Pursues Direct Talks with Lebanon While Maintaining Pressure on Hezbollah
Digital Detox Research Suggests Potential to Reverse Long-Term Effects of Social Media Overuse
Strategic Openings Suggest Path for Trump to Secure Breakthrough on Iran
Chinese Firm’s Washington Outreach Linked to Trump-Era Networks Yields Policy Breakthrough
UK Urges Inclusion of Lebanon in US-Iran Ceasefire Framework
Starmer Voices Frustration Over Global Pressures Driving UK Energy Costs Higher
Canada Aligns With US, UK and Australia as Europe Prepares Major Digital Border Overhaul
Global Markets Jolt as Iran Signals Ceasefire Breakdown and Rising Regional Tensions
Trump Calls for Toll-Free Reopening of Strait of Hormuz to Safeguard Global Trade
Oil Industry Urges White House to Secure Strait of Hormuz as Supply Concerns Mount
Trump and First Lady Host White House Easter Egg Roll Celebrating Tradition and Unity
×