The Thaiger
Ex-Future Forward leader says coups stalled Thailand’s growth
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Former Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has argued that repeated coups and political instability have held back Thailand’s economic growth over the past two decades, while calling for military resources to be used more productively.
Key facts
- Thanathorn, now chair of the Progressive Movement, made the comments on September 19 at a Bangkok seminar marking 20 years since the 2006 military coup
- Thanathorn said government interest payments were projected to reach 13.6% of state revenue by 2029, which he warned would leave less money available for areas such as education and welfare.
- Thanathorn said Thailand recorded average annual GDP growth of about 2.6% over the past 20 years, below a global average of 3.3%
- Former Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has argued that repeated coups and political instability have held back Thailand’s economic growth over the past two decades, while calling for military resources to be used
- Using 2006 as an index of 100, he said Vietnam had risen to around 300, Indonesia and the Philippines to about 250, while Thailand reached 162.
- Thanathorn placed those figures within a wider criticism of Thailand’s political development since the 2006 coup
Summary
Thanathorn, now chair of the Progressive Movement, made the comments on September 19 at a Bangkok seminar marking 20 years since the 2006 military coup. His speech focused on what he described as the political and economic consequences of military intervention, before setting out four proposals for military assets and resources.
### Coups and Thailand’s slower growth