Paetongtarn survives no-confidence vote – strong support in parliament

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has passed her first vote of no confidence since she took office in August 2023. After three days of intense debate in parliament, 319 members voted to give the government continued confidence, while 239 voted against and one member abstained.

Greater support than expected

The vote results provide a clear mandate for the Prime Minister and her coalition government, especially given the harsh accusations made by the opposition during the debate. The vote was held after 37 hours of debate, in which the opposition criticized the government's economic policies, family ties in politics and plans to legalize entertainment zones with gambling activities, among other things.

The Prime Minister's statement after the vote

After the vote, Paetongtarn thanked lawmakers for their support and stressed that the government will now focus on strengthening the economy, managing the cost of living and fulfilling promises of reforms. She also expressed a willingness to work broadly with different groups in society.

The opposition continues to criticize

Despite the result, several opposition parties have announced that they will continue to scrutinize the government's work, especially regarding transparency and financial responsibility.

Background: What was the debate about?

The debate leading up to the vote included both sharp criticism and defensive speeches from several prominent politicians. You can read more about the content and accusations here:
Thailand: No-confidence debate shakes the government – ​​what's at stake

Text: The editorial staff

Image license: Government of Thailand. Official press material.