In response to the idea that the slow return to a democracy could be the main cause, I would offer a few other reasons for this poor result. Let’s start with a scandal over police-station construction, which has dragged on for eight years. With a Bt7-billion investment, this could be described as a high-priced deal that needed urgent attention, but it’s more likely the suspects will die before this case gets to a court. There was also a clear case of dereliction of duty when an ex-police chief described his position as a part-time second job at the same time as admitting he’d borrowed $10 million from a brothel owner, but that was fine as they were friends. And now we have another case destined to keep the authorities busy for a good 10 years with many provincial authorities being suspected of a welfare allowance scam, pocketing money aimed for the destitute.

Source: The Nation Bangkok February 24, 2018 18:00 UTC