Picture courtesy of Thai PBS

 

Recently rebranded as the Economic Party, this Thai political faction is making waves by proposing capital punishment for state officials found guilty of corruption, marking a bold strategy to combat the country's persistent graft issues. Formerly known as Zendai, the party has undergone significant changes, including a fresh executive board and a set of new policies aimed at addressing Thailand's economic woes.

 

Despite the renaming, the Election Commission’s website still lists the party under its previous name, Zendai. Analysts describe the Economic Party as "neoconservative," reflecting a blend of both youthful and veteran perspectives, traditional values, and modern economic and technological strategies. The party is seen as a monarchy-friendly alternative appealing to young voters, potentially countering the influence of the liberal People’s Party.

 

The People’s Party, regarded by some conservatives as a threat to the monarchy and other traditional institutions, has seen its past incarnations, Move Forward and Future Forward, dissolved by court orders. Move Forward was disbanded for its stance on amending the lese majeste law, while Future Forward faced dissolution due to illegal financial contributions.

 

General Rangsee Kitiyanasap, the leader of the Economic Party, unveiled its "zero corruption" policy along with other key initiatives in late April. Emphasising capital punishment for severe corruption cases, Rangsee argues this measure is critical to restoring public trust, enhancing transparency, and stabilising the economy. According to Rangsee, Thailand's current economic troubles, driven by global trade tensions and geopolitical conflicts, are far more severe than the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

 

Rangsee also announced plans for infrastructure advancement, including transforming Thailand into a logistics hub, constructing a land-bridge connecting the Indian and Pacific oceans, and reforming the justice system. He dismissed claims that the party serves as a military tool, asserting that while he is a former military officer, the party consists predominantly of civilians from diverse generations.

 

Rangsee's political journey began when he joined forces with Zendai leader Chris Potranandana during his tenure at Army-run Channel 5. Chris, a co-founder of Future Forward, collaborated with Rangsee on volunteer efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually leading to the formation of the Economic Party. Zendai competed in the 2023 general election but did not win any seats.

 

Rangsee resigned from his role at Channel 5 in March 2022, following controversies over the station’s handling of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, signalling his transition from military to political realms. The Economic Party's dramatic stance on tackling corruption reflects its ambition to reshape Thailand’s political and economic landscape.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS 2025-05-27

 

 

Now there's a party to vote for - keep it up chaps    👍

there is no corruption in Thailand, these people are wasting time and energy, they will not find one corrupted member

 

P.S=== SARCASM intended

The executioner would have to work 24/7/365 to even make a small dent  in the corrupt officials numbers ,,,,,,,,,

That is a good idea.. I know already a few that could be sentenced

It could only work if you had a super clean police force and judiciary, otherwise suspects could be threatened with death unless they handed over brown envelopes.

I think its a good idea. Of course in case (of miracle) its would become a law  no one "important" would be sentenced to death. Also its would be surely used to con and make shut-up the most dangerous opposant.

That say the simple idea that a capital punishment exist, its will certainly make think twice a fair number of officials, specialy the one who arent well connected engough and will be prime target for a show of virtue.

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

this Thai political faction is making waves by proposing capital punishment for state officials found guilty of corruption, marking a bold strategy to combat the country's persistent graft issues.

 

Sounds good to me.

Having a death penalty for officials at the lower end of the scale while their bosses sit comfortably on the cash. How not to create a just system.

21 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Having a death penalty for officials at the lower end of the scale while their bosses sit comfortably on the cash. How not to create a just system.

Problem as always with simplistic non-solutions is that those who benefit from corruption never pay the penalties.  The small people are used as fallguys, they would get executed.   And the rich would walk off into the sunshine with their ill-gotten gains, laughing all the way.

A bit harsh, wouldn't you say? But I wouldn't be completely against the idea. It should get rid of the problem. Most of these slime balls don't even go to jail.

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the Economic Party is making waves by proposing capital punishment for state officials found guilty of corruption

General Rangsee Kitiyanasap, the leader of the Economic Party

only state officials?

why not also government officials?

Because the party leader is a military general, which makes him a government officials..., (it would be a conflict of interest)

16 hours ago, liddelljohn said:

The executioner would have to work 24/7/365 to even make a small dent  in the corrupt officials numbers ,,,,,,,,,

The job would require shift work or as you stated a boat load of overtime

Well, it's a headline grabber for sure, job done and some attention brought to this new "neo-conservative" party.

"Tough on corruption, tough on the causes of corruption".

 

However, if you think about it for more than about 2 seconds, you will conclude it's completely unworkable.

"The People’s Party, regarded by some conservatives as a threat to the monarchy and other traditional institutions, has seen its past incarnations, Move Forward and Future Forward, dissolved by court orders. Move Forward was disbanded for its stance on amending the lese majeste law, while Future Forward faced dissolution due to illegal financial contributions."

 

Don't worry, if the People's party makes enough waves they will be disbanded too for some trivial reason.

Sadly for the Thai people the entire system is corrupt, we know it and they know it!

3 hours ago, Purdey said:

Having a death penalty for officials at the lower end of the scale while their bosses sit comfortably on the cash. How not to create a just system.

Exactly... fall-guys fall and the elite continue to fly high

and this anti-corruption party is led by............ a general. Am I missing something, or is it just TIT?

 

 

A very dangerous idea. How would they determine who to charge or how to prosecute them? This is a setup for authoritarian purges of opposition officials.

2 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

A very dangerous idea. How would they determine who to charge or how to prosecute them? This is a setup for authoritarian purges of opposition officials.

A "dangerous idea" for the pollies themselves, though. Far as most of us are concerned, they can purge each other to infinity. Sell tickets.....

18 minutes ago, isaanistical said:

A "dangerous idea" for the pollies themselves, though. Far as most of us are concerned, they can purge each other to infinity. Sell tickets.....

Again, how do you maintain fairness and control of the system? How do you prevent a North Korea where the bad guys are killing the good guys?

Economic Party Advocates Capital Punishment for Corrupt Officials in Thailand

 

 

Nightmare to the politicians and high-ranking bureaucrats in this kingdom.

Culling of the receivers of Brown Envelop.

 

 

23 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Again, how do you maintain fairness and control of the system? How do you prevent a North Korea where the bad guys are killing the good guys?

You just arrived? There are no good guys.

6 minutes ago, isaanistical said:

You just arrived? There are no good guys.

Hardly, and that is not true. Allowing the government to unilaterally kill people is a terrible idea.

They'll be no one left.

A nice PR stunt

2 hours ago, NedR69 said:

They'll be no one left.

Wrong, the people doing the killing would still be there.

3 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Hardly, and that is not true. Allowing the government to unilaterally kill people is a terrible idea.

Allowing officials to take brown envelopes is a terrible idea. Everything about Thailand's administration (and that of many other countries) is a terrible idea and topping a few to "encourager les autres" would get my vote (er, I don't have one).

 

I don't say all officials are bad, but all are bent. Even the good ones - who do their jobs diligently in their community - will happily accommodate one in return for a little something. And that is about something else - the rate for the job.

 

To be serious, "Pay peanuts, you get only monkeys". The diligent local cop, or local council guy, gets a pittance. No great incentive to refuse my occasional "pourboire", is there? But - and we all know the reality - pay better and you don't actually get rid of the corrupt(ion). You have to somehow weed out the baddies BEFORE rewarding the rest. And that is something no administration in the region, perhaps in the world, has learned to do.

1 minute ago, isaanistical said:

Allowing officials to take brown envelopes is a terrible idea. Everything about Thailand's administration (and that of many other countries) is a terrible idea and topping a few to "encourager les autres" would get my vote (er, I don't have one).

 

I don't say all officials are bad, but all are bent. Even the good ones - who do their jobs diligently in their community - will happily accommodate one in return for a little something. And that is about something else - the rate for the job.

 

To be serious, "Pay peanuts, you get only monkeys". The diligent local cop, or local council guy, gets a pittance. No great incentive to refuse my occasional "pourboire", is there? But - and we all know the reality - pay better and you don't actually get rid of the corrupt(ion). You have to somehow weed out the baddies BEFORE rewarding the rest. And that is something no administration in the region, perhaps in the world, has learned to do.

And what if the people with the envelopes start killing the people that are not taking the envelopes? This is a very populist fascist idea, and a very bad one. The corruption is already illegal, all that is missing is proper enforcement.

Ancient Greek Democracies had this rule  2300 Years ago for elected officials ,, and it was taken by a full vote of the  cities  registered  Voters ,, minimum punishments for corruption or incompetence  was  a massive fine often  all money and posessions  , removal of office and voting rights which was harsh as it made you less than a man , to exile for you and your family which was almost as bad as death as you were no longer citizen but an outcast and unlikely to find refuge in another city , to a choice of slavery or death , by poison, sword, fire or strangulation ...  Even republican Rome  had methods to punish corrupt or incompetent officials  ..  

 

Modern Democracies often reward  incompetence   etc in Uk they are made Lords ,, In EU they are made commissioners ,In Thailand or USA its a revolving door for the elites ,, Etc etc ,,,no real punishments for failure ..