A New Battle is Coming in Thailand: Can Prayut Hold onto the Premiership?
THAILAND STUDIES PROGRAMME WEBINAR
About the Webinar
After forming the core of Thailand’s ruling coalition for two years, the Phalang Pracharat Party (PPRP) is reportedly preparing for the country’s next elections. Signs suggest that the PPRP has not been alone in preparing for new polls. Other political parties and politicians have also begun to make themselves ready for an upcoming campaign. Politicians have switched parties, and famous political figures have set up new electoral vehicles — including the Kla or Courage Party of former Democrat parliamentarians and the Thai Sang Thai or Thais Build Thailand Party launched by former Phuea Thai leader Sudarat Keyuraphan. Sub-district-level polls and gubernatorial elections in Bangkok are also in the offing.
This webinar will examine these developments and the policies that the PPRP has developed in an effort to ensure its victory in Thailand’s next national elections — including vaccination for COVID-19, the adoption of a new electoral system, and a slate of populist measures to be implemented before Thais head to the polls. The PPRP’s success in pursuing these policies is likely to pave the way for electoral victory and for the pro-military party’s control of Thailand for another four years.
About the Speaker
Punchada Sirivunnabood is Visiting Fellow in the Thailand Studies Programme of the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mahidol University, Bangkok. With James Ockey, she is preparing a book manuscript on stability, change, institutionalization and evolution in the Thai political-party system.
Registration
This webinar will be delivered online entirely. You can join the webinar at the specified date and time using devices (computer, phone, or tablet) with internet connection.
Please register here to receive your unique link for joining the webinar.
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1. Install the Zoom client onto your computer or download the app on your mobile device.
2. Click on the unique link in your email.
If you have questions for the speaker, please key in your questions via the Q&A, stating your name and affiliation. The moderator will field them to the speaker during the Q&A session.