Uncle Pom News Today

Srettha Thavisin is expected to bring in members of pro-military parties who supported him in vote for PM.

Thai Newsroom reports that the Bhum Jai Thai Party, "under de facto party boss Newin Chidchob is becoming a ninth coalition partner headed by ... Pheu Thai...". It goes on to say that the 71 Bhum Jai Thai MPs "will join the 310-MPs-strong Pheu Thai-led coalition in Friday’s joint House/Senate meeting to cast yea votes…

Now that the country is heading towards an election, which is to take place on May 14, it seems the dictator vs democracy dichotomy has largely faded as most political parties are forced to focus on measures to tackle economic problems in order to boost their chance of winning in the polls.

A day after Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha was suspended from his prime ministerial duties, Paiboon Nititawan, deputy leader of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party, was handing out a biography on Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, now acting PM, to reporters.

4 Its a year-end tradition for Thai media to anoint figures in the political world with nicknames (with a varying degree of sarcasm). On Monday, their nicknames were revealed and -- in case you had been busy with the New Year celebration since Christmas -- Im here to explain the idea behind some of them. g The nickname: ตู่ไม่รู้ล้ม (Tu-mai-roo-lom) Unofficial translation: Uncle Tu who never goes flaccid (read on before you judge me). Context: The nickname given to Pri...