Following Election 2007 in English
If you start now, you should be able to be able to follow the Bangkok Post's election coverage without much difficulty by the time the general election takes place on December 23. All it takes is regular practice. This special section of our website will help you get started.
Here you will find four special articles to help you with the basics of elections in general and background on the Thai general election in particular. You will also find a long list of election-related stories for you to practice. All include mp3 soundfiles so that you can listen to the text as well.
Getting started
Election basics – The background and vocabulary you need to know to read about elections here and abroad.Campaign 2007 - The campaign both nationwide and region-by-region.
Reading the polls - A look at the basics of polling, how to read them and what they say about the current election.
Keeping things clean - The role of the Election Commission and why its job won't be an easy one
Reading practice
Here are the election-related stories we have covered so far on readbangkokpost.com.Chart Thai again - December 28, 2007: Once again the focus is on the Chart Thai Party as a coalition partner.
Yellow cards - December 27: The Election Commission begins issuing yellow cards.
The view from abroad - December 25: A news report on the Thai election for an international news agency.
The results come in - December 24: The results come in on election night.
Courting Banharn - December 22: Both major parties want Banharn Silpa-archa and his Chart Thai party as members of a coalition.
Pre-election debate - December 21: Coverage of a debate among prominent members of several political parties
Rough day - December 20: The Democrat leader has a very bumby day on the campaign trail
Contrasting leaders - December 19: The two major parties have very different types of leaders
Advanced voting – December 18: There were complaints about the procedures that allowed those people who could not be present on December 23 to vote in advance.
Wadah – December 14: The Wadah faction of the deep South may be struggling
PPP under fire – (December 13: Is the PPP in trouble with the Election Commission?
VCD controversy – December 11: Are the VCDs of Mr Thaksin urges voters to support the PPP going to get that party into trouble?
A question of neutrality – December 7: Will the military remain neutral? Undecided voters
Trouble for a party leader – December 4: Matchimathipataya leader Prachai Leophairatana losing a major battle in Criminal Court
A controversial poll – November 28: Why is the special branch of the police holding an opinion poll?
A big "debate" – November 26: The Democrat and People Power leaders visit Suan Kaew temple for a debate that wasn't really a debate
Abhisit's blitz – November 23: The Democrat leader plans to campaign for 24 hours straight
Alliance rumours – November 22: There are rumours of an alliance involving the up and coming Puea Pandin party.
Sven arrives – November 16: Is the visit of the Manchester City manager really political?
Looking for partners – November 15: The PPP is looking for possible partners to form a coaltion government after the election.
Confusion - November 13: Political parties are worried that the complicated number system for candidates will confuse voters.
First poll - November 12: The first opinion poll is released.
Chart Thai - November 9: Chart Thai Party leader Banharn Silpa-archa outlines his ideas of a good populist programme.
The party list system - November 7: A lot of people don't like the changes made to the party list system, but there are reasons for the changes.
Sanan makes a move - October 30: Veteran politician Sanan Kachornprasart abandons his own party to move to another.
Election date - October 5: The date of the general election is set for December 23.
Merger activity - September 14: Lots of smaller parties are considering mergers to strengthen their chances of joining the new government. Here's one merger that actually took place.
Chavalit seeks to lead - August 24: Former Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh expresses an interest in leading an alternative party.
Old politics - August 22: Thailand's new politics is sounding very much like the bad days of old.