A Thai voter casts her ballot in the country's general election on March 24 (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) – Voting is underway in the general election in Thailand onMarch 24 with over 50 million people eligible to cast votes.
Up to 92,320 polling stations served the general election, the first since the militarycoup in 2014, starting from 8:00 to 17:00. Preliminary unofficial results areexpected to be announced at 20:00 the same day.
Atotal of 81 parties are contesting the election, and thousands of candidateswill vie for 350 constituencies. The other 150 members of the House ofRepresentatives will be elected from the national party lists under a system ofproportional representation.
Underthe new electoral system, having the most number of MPs in the 500-seat Houseof Representatives may not be enough to win the premiership. Thailand’s newConstitution empowers 250 military-backed senators to join 500 MPs in selectingthe prime minister during the initial period.
Prominentcandidates include Sudarat Keyuraphan from the Pheu Thai party; former primeminister Abhisit Vejjajiva from the Democrats; and a young telecomsbillionaire, Thanatorn Juangroongruangkit, from the new Future Forward party.Notably, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the military coup in 2014, has beennominated as the only prime ministerial candidate of the newly formedpro-military Palang Pracha Rath Party.
A 24-hour alcohol ban began 6 pm on March 23 dueto the election.
A representative from the Election Commission of Thailand said a group representingforeign countries and international organisations is observing the election.The group includes those from foreign embassies in Bangkok, such as that ofAustralia, Bhutan, Cambodia, the Republic of Korea, and Vietnam.-VNA
More than 1.5 million people have registered for advance voting ahead of the March 24 general election in Thailand while 85,000 people officially signed up as overseas voters, Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) Secretary General Jarungvith Phumma said.
Nearly 2.6 million voters across Thailand started to cast early ballots on March 17, a week ahead the country’s first general election scheduled for March 24.
An average of 75 percent voter turnout was reported in the March 17 early voting for the general election in Thailand, according to an official from the country’s Election Commission (EC).
Political parties said on March 22 that they were ready for the election scheduled for March 24, while introducing new policies to win voters’ support.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
A Thai voter casts her ballot in the country's general election on March 24 (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
