Thai Premier Faces No-Confidence Vote as Protests Gather Steam

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha is set to face a no-confidence vote this week as opposition lawmakers target his government for its alleged mismanagement of the Covid-19 outbreak amid a renewed push by pro-democracy activists for the premier’s ouster and monarchy reforms.

Prayuth and nine of his cabinet members will be grilled by the opposition during a four-day debate that will culminate with a vote likely on Saturday. While the government is expected to survive the vote like it did a year ago, the debate may determine the future of some of the ministers as parties begin shifting focus to 2023 general elections, according to Punchada Sirivunnabood, an expert in Thai politics and an associate professor at Mahidol University near Bangkok.