New Privy councillor in spotlight over past role in disbanding political parties

13 Sept 09:42 Key points summarised by AI

Former Constitutional Court president Nurak Mapraneet was appointed as the 17th privy councillor, immediately drawing scrutiny over his past involvement in numerous rulings that led to the dissolution of political parties.
Critics, including former Future Forward Party secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, highlighted Nurak's role in disbanding high-profile parties like Thai Rak Thai, People Power, and Future Forward, while allegedly sparing the Democrats, raising questions about political impartiality.
Nurak served an unprecedented 13 years on the Constitutional Court, presiding over nearly 30 party dissolutions, and his new royal appointment has fueled public debate regarding accountability for his politically impactful judicial decisions.

Suchada: Meet the reluctant star of Thailand’s cryptic crypto drama

Yesterday 15:38 Key points summarised by AI

Thai MP Suchada Zhang Thaensap faces intense scrutiny over her husband’s substantial 1.84 billion baht wealth, with opposition lawmakers alleging connections to international scam networks.
A significant portion of her husband, Taiyang Zhang's, declared assets includes a 1.44 billion baht loan to the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, which still owes him 1.34 billion baht.
Opposition MP Rangsiman Rome accused Suchada's husband of links to online scam networks and gambling sites, prompting Suchada to vehemently deny the claims, demand evidence, and file a defamation complaint.
Taiyang Zhang's background includes co-founding Ren Protocol, later sold to Alameda Research (linked to the FTX collapse), and some of his former associates have been convicted in crypto company failures.
Suchada, a former actress and first-time MP, maintains her husband's innocence, while her party leaders have distanced themselves from the allegations, deeming it a private matter.