“Iron Lady” is off the blocks, again…but will she make it?

14 Sept 02:36 Key points summarised by AI

Sudarat Keyuraphan, dubbed Thailand's "Iron Lady," is re-emerging as a potential prime ministerial candidate for the Pheu Thai Party, aiming to challenge military-backed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Her candidacy faces significant hurdles, including overcoming influential male political rivals, securing full internal party support, and navigating challenging constitutional rules, despite her strong political connections and Bangkok base.
Sudarat boasts decades of experience in Thai politics, having co-founded the Thai Rak Thai Party with Thaksin Shinawatra and served in numerous ministerial roles, positioning her as a seasoned but controversial figure.
Her recent resurgence follows the indictment of Thaksin's son, signaling a more belligerent stance after a previous political setback where she was criticized for an election-campaign style tribute.

No-confidence dates remain unsettled after second walkout

Today 13:00 Key points summarised by AI

Opposition whips staged a second walkout from talks with government counterparts, leaving dates for a no-confidence debate against 18 Cabinet members, including the prime minister, unresolved.
Disagreement centered on the debate's duration and timing: government proposed late October (4 days debate, 1 day vote), while opposition demanded a longer six-day process in November.
Government chief whip Korrawee Prissananantakul expressed disappointment, citing the Prime Minister's overseas travel on October 30 as a key scheduling conflict.
Korrawee denied government attempts to delay the censure, asserting their readiness to proceed and placing the onus on the opposition for initiating further negotiations.