Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: Reuters

Thailand is facing one of its most tense political times in recent years. The country’s political leaders are deeply involved in power struggles, legal cases, and secret deals, while ordinary citizens and businesses are pleading for urgent help to fix economic problems that are affecting their daily lives.

Prime Minister Suspended After Leaked Conversation

The crisis started when an audio clip was leaked. In this clip, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was heard talking privately with Hun Sen, the President of Cambodia’s Senate. This conversation caused huge controversy in Thailand. Because of this, the Constitutional Court accepted a petition against her and ordered her to stop working as Prime Minister until the court finishes its investigation. This process could take more than 60 days, leaving the government in a state of uncertainty.
Paetongtarn’s suspension has put her party, Pheu Thai, in a very risky situation. Every decision and political move now feels like a gamble, and her family’s long-standing influence is also under threat.

Other Parties Trying to Take Power

After Paetongtarn was suspended, Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of Bhumjaithai Party, quickly started secret talks with members of the People’s Party. He aimed to collect enough votes to become the temporary Prime Minister. However, his plan faced many problems. His idea of forming a deal with the “orange bloc”, which is a group of progressive parties, made conservative groups very uneasy. Many members of the People’s Party were also suspicious of this deal.

As a result, Anutin’s plan is now weakening. Even if he manages to get the People’s Party’s support, he still does not have enough votes because the conservative bloc has refused to join him and his party.

Pheu Thai Party Still Confident Despite Trouble

Despite Paetongtarn’s suspension, her party, Pheu Thai, remains the strongest in Parliament. They are confident that if a new Prime Minister is chosen, it will still be someone from their party because they have the largest number of seats in government.

However, while politicians keep fighting for power, people across Thailand are focusing on something else. They are tired of political drama and want the government to solve economic problems quickly, such as reducing debt, lowering prices, and creating jobs.

What People Want From The Government

People across the country want the government to:

• Solve household debt problems so that families can live with less stress.
• Improve people’s living standards by increasing incomes and creating better job opportunities.
• Revive the tourism industry because tourism brings in a lot of money and jobs for Thai people.
• Promote new industries for the future, like technology and green energy.
• Attract more foreign companies to invest in Thailand, bringing in jobs and economic growth.

They also want the government to create clear, stable, and long-term economic policies so that everyone can plan their future with confidence.
Other Suggestions From The Public

People also suggested:

• Making government departments work faster and follow rules properly.
• Allowing businesses and local communities to give suggestions when making policies.
• Reducing political fights and creating stability in the country.
• People’s Opinions Show Economy Is More Important Than Politics

Public opinion surveys also show similar results. People want the government to focus on solving economic problems first. One survey of 1,264 people nationwide showed the top five urgent problems they want solved are:

• High living costs and product prices – 72.55%
• Low income and personal debt – 69.09%
• Political problems – 65.28%
• Problems in the justice system – 64.58%
• Farming and agriculture issues – 62.30%

Another survey asked people when the Cabinet should change ministers. Most people said the changes should be made in ministries that handle the economy, such as the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Agriculture.

New Ministers Under Pressure To Perform

In the recent Cabinet reshuffle, some new ministers were appointed to important roles. For example:

• Jatuporn Buruspat became the new Minister of Commerce and now has to prove that he can handle Thailand’s economic challenges.
• Attakorn Sirilatthayakorn became the new Minister of Agriculture and people will watch his performance closely because farming is a key part of Thailand’s economy.

Exporters Worried About Trade With The US

Meanwhile, business groups are worried about Thailand’s trade relationship with the United States. Right now, the US has reduced taxes for products from Vietnam by 20%, but Thai products still face a 36% tax. This makes it hard for Thai exporters to compete in the American market. Business groups say if trade talks with the US fail, the government must:

• Help exporters find new markets.
• Offer financial support to exporters.
• Review market access conditions to ensure Thai products remain competitive.

Cheap Imports Hurting Thai Businesses

Another problem is that Thailand is getting flooded with cheap products from other countries. This is badly affecting small and medium-sized Thai businesses, which cannot compete with the low prices of imported goods.

Government Still Believes It Has Time To Fix Problems

Despite all these issues, Jirawat Arunyakanon, the Deputy Spokesman of Pheu Thai Party, said the government still has two years left to prove itself. He said they will use this time to:

• Spend the budget wisely to help people.
• Invest in large projects that will develop the country and create jobs.

Political Games vs People’s Real Needs

In the end, while politicians continue their power games and legal battles, normal people are struggling with their daily lives. They are asking their leaders to stop fighting for power and instead focus on reducing debt, bringing down prices, creating jobs, and giving them a better future.