bradiston

"A SICKLY THAKSIN SHINAWATRA, the de facto Pheu Thai boss, has managed to virtually put his hands on the business of compromising and allocating cabinet portfolios among varied coalition partners, a partisan source said today (Aug.23)." What the heck does this mean? I find TNR a highly dubious source. Their reporting is badly written and usually badly researched. Their use of "partisan sources" is bizarre. What do they mean? How do you "virtually put your hands" on "compromising... cabinet portfolios"?

I had a mate banged up for 2 and a half years in Klong Prem. They lay head to toe on the floor in the cells. Everything was down to a bribe. Extra floor space, everything. I used to visit whenever in Bangkok. He got out on an annual royal pardon, but not a special one. You just have to wait your turn, be good, help others, maybe teach English, give massages etc etc. Can't see Tony feeling so inclined.

And so it carries on. Who gets what in the cabinet is what the whole shenanigans่ has been about. A lot of promises were made to get the PM votes I'm sure. Now it's the day(s) of reckoning. I saw Chonlanan pencilled in for the Health Ministry but he is duty bound (ha!) to resign after his party signed up with UTN and PPRP, according to his word. BJT have staked claims. Will they be rewarded? Pass the popcorn.

But what would "foreign control of property" amount to? What would owning more than 49% of floor space in a condo really mean? It just seems entirely misguided. What's the reasoning really based on? Foreigners are taking over? The actual land a condo takes up is really insignificant. Maybe 5 rai at most. If I didn't have an immediate relative who has Thai nationality, I wouldn't be able to buy where I want. And the Thai seller really wants to sell. I've seen the ratios. 55.5 foreign. 44.5 Thai. So down at the land office, it's backhanders all round. Just the same at immigration. Make nonsensical laws (800k in the bank etc), and it's a licence for dodgy practices. Maybe that's the point!

What's the point of anonymous sad and confused icons except to reveal there are a lot of sad and confused commentators on this forum?

The full foreign quota of 49% gets sold. Any more foreigners are then automatically shut out. Makes sense to you?

Quite. They'll need more than luck. Can't see any way. And all the policies such as scrapping conscription, how's that going to work with all the junta parties on board? PT will be totally hamstrung. Hung parliament? Utterly ineffective? Unable to pass any legislation? Going to be interesting.

Ah, I get it. Seems generally speaking a real problem for both developers and potential foreign investors. They can't buy into the Thai 51% even though there are flats available, and sellers willing to sell. Completely mad. I bought 4 small flats in London in a fairly decent development where Chinese buyers were buying whole floors, 10 flats at a time. You could argue the London housing market was a complete shut out for most first time buyers because of the soaring prices. But does this 49%/51% policy actually help lower income Thais could get on the ladder? Or is that not the point of it?

Maybe him upstairs has got something to say about which direction the government is to go in. It's his way or the highway Mr Taweesin, as you're about to find out.

The linked article is excellent. Really well written, well thought out. Much food for thought.

I'm on keto so had the same problem as you giving up bread. I've sourced numerous different "keto breads" on Lazada. All are fairly revolting. The only one I reorder now is tolerable with a lot of butter (very keto) and well toasted. It's made by Dancing with a Baker, is expensive by normal bread standard, but a loaf lasts me a week. Eat with well flavoured toppings. Cheese, smoked salmon, scrambled eggs etc. Also, recommend erythritol as a sugar substitute.

Thailand didn't choose him for heaven's sake! The Senate chose him.

They've turned parliament into a Walking Street bar. Everything's for sale.

Interesting. On Thai Friendly for instance, I can't believe girls don't share information on guys. After all, a lot work, eat and/or live together. I've had at various times, a spate of being stood up, like I did something wrong. Best to just to delete and move on. It's like good and bad reviews!

300 me too just last week, Jomtien. 2 photos, tm30, rental contract, passport and copy of passport including details page, page with first visa, latest visa and entry stamp, application form stating reason for application. Same day.

Why is that?

But it obviously doesn't do that as I point out. The fewer they sell, the more they have to increase prices of the ones they can. Are condos really 30% unsold? What is a standard actual ratio Thai to foreigner? Does their system work in preventing prices becoming unaffordable for Thais? Only a small percentage of Thais can afford to buy in any case. Well to do middle classes and up. This has nothing to do with keeping housing affordable for average Thais.

That figure of 70% suggests the law is completely counterproductive. 30% unoccupation rate is outrageous. The developers have to allow for 30% vacancy (aka NPD) so must increase prices for the 70% they predict they can sell. Why not allow 30% more foreign ownership? It completely distorts the market and benefits nobody. Maybe there's money to be made down at the land offices?

I have to correct myself, in that it is 49% of the total floor space in the condo, not 49% of the units, that can be foreign owned. The law seems to have been amended, repealed then passed again over the years. And there seem to be exceptions for eg Bangkok and Pattaya. https://www.samuiforsale.com/law-texts/condominium-act-no3-1999.html I can't make head or tail of it. I shall put the whole thing in my daughter's name. 50/50 satisfactory outcome. I really would have preferred title in my name.

How come? I thought it was across the board.

First time buyer of a condo, though I own a house. I've never given much thought to the 49/51 split of foreign/Thai condo ownership rules, and would have been unable to buy the place I've set my sights on were it not for the fact that my daughter has Thai nationality and hence is able to own it. But it really made me wonder how much of a hindrance this rule is for developers who, having offloaded 49% to eager foreigners, find themselves left with up to 51% impossible or hard to get rid of properties. Doesn't this rule make life extremely difficult for developers, not to mention cash rich foreigners, as it would seem to work against the entire property market?

At least Chonlanan appears to be sticking to his word, but don't hold your breath. And the Chang Mai leader of Pheu Thai, Thassanee Buranupakorn, has quit in disgust. https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40030388

So you're an anarchist?

MFP owes PT no favours. The great betrayal was PT not following MFP into opposition. Laid the foundations for the catastrophe that's now unfolding. History will surely record it as one of the greatest missed opportunities for redressing the deficiencies in the Thai political system ever. Could have completely overturned the status quo and brought to the fore badly needed new talent, new thinking, new ideas. PT ruled by self interest, that's all.

And let them choke on it