Government of Thailand

Government of Thailand, officially the Royal Thai Government (RTG; Thai: รัฐบาลไทย, RTGS: Ratthaban Thai, pronounced [rát.tʰā.bāːn tʰāj]), is the central executive authority of the Kingdom of Thailand. The government is led by the prime minister (Paetongtarn Shinawatra since 14 August 2024) who selects all the other ministers. The country has had a coalition government since 2024 led by Pheu Thai. The country emerged as a modern nation state after the foundation of the Chakri dynasty and the city of Bangkok in 1782. The Revolution of 1932 brought an end to absolute monarchy and replaced it with a constitutional monarchy.

From then on the country was ruled by a succession of military leaders installed after coups d'état, the most recent in May 2014, and a few democratic intervals. The 2007 Constitution (drafted by a military-appointed council, but approved by a referendum) was annulled by the 2014 coup-makers who ran the country as a military dictatorship.

Thailand has so far had twenty Constitutions. Throughout, the basic structure of government has remained the same. The government of Thailand is composed of three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. The system of government is modelled after the Westminster system. All branches of government are concentrated in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand.

From May 2014 until July 2019, Thailand was ruled by a military junta, the National Council for Peace and Order, which partially repealed the 2007 constitution, declared martial law and nationwide curfew, banned political gatherings, arrested and detained politicians and anti-coup activists, imposed internet censorship and took control of the media. On 24 March 2019, Thailand voted in the 2019 Thai general election, supporting a spread of opinion across many political parties vying to be in government.