Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post
Thai provincial governors have been granted the authority akin to a company’s CEO, following a Cabinet agreement.
This move forms part of the government’s decentralisation policy. However, the main opposition party, the Move Forward Party (MFP), and various critics question if this action truly aligns with accepted international standards of decentralisation.
The Cabinet-approved proposal, submitted by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), empowers provincial governors under Section 53 of the royal decree on integrated area-based administration in 2022. The provincial governors can now conduct performance assessments, raise salaries, and award special rewards to executive senior civil servants in their provinces. They also have the power to take disciplinary action when required.
The proposal,…
