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Thailand Page |
Welcome to ElectionInfo.com's pages on Thailand
Official Name: Kingdom of Thailand
Capital: Bangkok
Area: 513,120 square kilometres ( 198,117 square miles )
Major cities (Population)
Bangkok 6,566,000 (1995 estimate)
Chiang Mai 170,269 (1992 estimate)
Population: 58,791,000 (1995 estimate)
Population growth rate: 1.1 per cent (1990-1995 average)
Type of government: Constitutional monarchy
Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
Constitution: New constitution approved 7 December 1991, amended 10 June 1992
Voting Rights: Universal at age 18
Government
The king is the head of state but has only a few executive responsibilities. Executive power lies mainly with the prime minister, who governs with the assistance of a Council of Ministers. The National Assembly has two houses: a 270-member Senate, whose members are appointed by the king, and a House of Representatives, whose 360 members are directly elected. All adults over the age of 18 are eligible to vote. In villages, local chiefs are elected by the people.
Although the king lost political power after the revolution of 1932, the monarchy is greatly revered by most Thais. Images of the king are treated with respect. It is illegal to say or write anything offensive to royalty, although there is freedom of expression in political reporting. Traditional values focus on devotion to the king, the nation, and religion: since the revolution, the phrase “King, Country, Religion” has exemplified this.
Recent History
The government of the Thai kingdom of Siam became a constitutional monarchy in 1932, and Siam changed its name to Thailand in 1939. The Thai government collaborated with the Japanese invasion during World War II, and a period of political turmoil followed the war. In 1948 the army seized power, and from the 1950s to the early 1970s political power was held mostly by the military. The present king has ruled since 1946. He is known as Rama IX, but his name is Bhumibol Adulyadej. Despite numerous coups and attempted coups, and problems with neighbouring nations, Thailand's king has always been a symbol of national unity and stability.
The most recent coup was in 1991, when the military overthrew the elected government and appointed an interim prime minister pending elections in April 1992. When no party gained a majority in those elections, the coup leader, General Suchinda Kraprayoon, installed himself as head of government. Large demonstrations followed, which met with a violent military response. After the king intervened, Suchinda resigned in May. A civilian prime minister was appointed to govern until elections in September, when pro-democracy parties combined to win a narrow parliamentary majority. In the 1995 elections, the Chart Thai party won the largest number of seats, and Banharn Silapaarcha became prime minister. Since 1995, the military may not make up more than two-thirds of the House of Representatives.
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