Focus on the BIG picture.
Tuesday, Mar 17, 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
Trump Says US Asked China to Delay Beijing Summit With Xi by ‘a Month or So’
Trump and Vice President Vance Hold Executive Order Signing Ceremony at the White House
Debate Emerges Over Potential Architectural Changes to the White House Exterior
President Trump Meets Kennedy Center Board at White House Lunch
White House Signals Possible Shift in Timing for Trump–Xi Talks
White House Signals Possible Shift in Timing for Trump–Xi Talks
Trump Administration Rule Ends License Renewals for Many Immigrant Truck Drivers
US Intelligence Assessment Says Iran’s Leadership Is Consolidating Power Despite Military Pressure
Trump Reveals White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles Diagnosed With Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Growing Doubts Among Young Americans Who Once Backed Donald Trump
Washington State Suspect Arrested Over Super Bowl Weekend Shooting That Injured Six in San Jose
Washington State Suspect Arrested Over Super Bowl Weekend Shooting That Injured Six in San Jose
Trump Warns NATO Faces ‘Very Bad’ Future Without Stronger Allied Support in Iran Conflict
UK Minister Says Britain Not Bound to Support Every Demand From U.S. President
Starmer Says UK Working With Allies on Hormuz Shipping Plan After Trump Raises Pressure
Trump Intensifies Push for European Support to Secure Strait of Hormuz
Japan and Australia Decline U.S. Call for Naval Escorts in Strait of Hormuz
Pentagon Signs $96 Million Rare Earths Supply Deal With Australia’s Lynas
Pentagon Signs $96 Million Rare Earths Supply Deal With Australia’s Lynas
Thailand Orders Return of 284 Tonnes of Illegal Electronic Waste to the United States
Trump Returns to the White House After Weekend at Mar-a-Lago, Resuming Full Presidential Schedule
White House Signals Iran Conflict Likely to Continue for Several More Weeks
Trump Appointee Floats Proposal to Replace White House Entrance Columns with More Ornate Classical Design
White House Seeks International Coalition to Secure Gulf Shipping and Stabilize Global Energy Markets
White House Seeks International Coalition to Secure Gulf Shipping and Stabilize Global Energy Markets
Immigration Data Becomes Harder to Access as Trump Administration Intensifies Deportation Campaign
Olympia Becomes First City in Washington to Enact Legal Protections for Polyamorous Relationships
Ed Davey Urges Britain to Build Fully Independent Nuclear Missile Capability
US Treasury Links British Polo Patrons to Alleged Venezuelan Oil Proceeds Laundering Scheme
Starmer and Trump Discuss Urgent Need to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Iran Conflict
Trump Anticipates Historic UFC Fight Night on White House Lawn Featuring Elite Fighters
White House’s Social Media War Messaging Draws Scrutiny as Iran Conflict Intensifies
White House Softens Tone on Deportations After Minneapolis Immigration Crackdown
Latin America Faces Renewed U.S. Push for Militarized Anti-Cartel Campaign
Richard Grenell Concludes Dramatic Tenure Overhauling the Kennedy Center Under Trump’s Cultural Agenda
Temporary U.S. Waiver on Russian Oil Sanctions Sparks Debate Over Impact on Ukraine War
Flights Delayed at Washington and Baltimore Airports After Chemical Odor at Air Traffic Control Center
Mild Weekend Weather Expected Before Strong Storm System Threatens Mid-Atlantic on Monday
Inside the Transformation of The Washington Post Under Jeff Bezos
Inside the Transformation of The Washington Post Under Jeff Bezos
Trump Announces U.S. Precision Strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island, Center of Tehran’s Oil Economy
Trump Announces U.S. Precision Strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island, Center of Tehran’s Oil Economy
Washington’s Housing Crackdown on Investors Raises Fears of Market Shock
Trump Urges Britain and Allies to Deploy Warships to Safeguard Strait of Hormuz
Trump Urges Britain and Allies to Deploy Warships to Safeguard Strait of Hormuz
Australia Warned of Growing Cyber Threat as Iran-Linked Hackers Expand Attacks on US Allies
Rare March Snow Dusts Western Washington Lowlands After Sudden Cold Snap
Trump Signs Order Targeting Fraudulent ‘Made in America’ Labels to Protect U.S. Manufacturing
Trump Signs Order Targeting Fraudulent ‘Made in America’ Labels to Protect U.S. Manufacturing
White House Condemns CNN for Airing Statement From Iran’s Supreme Leader During Wartime Coverage
×