Blog about Thailand
in Thailand along with demands for a new constitution and limits on the monarchy, the king’s decision to spend most of his time in Germany – since 2016 when he ascended the throne upon his father’s death – has become a major political issue in both countries.
My taxes!” Thailand’s government has budgeted over $1 billion to finance the monarchy this year, despite the fact that King Maha Vajiralongkorn is one of the world’s wealthiest rulers, with an estimated $40 billion in assets.
After much negotiation (and recurrence of the disease), the king agreed to convert to Islam , adopting the name Sultan Ismail Shah. All of the sultan’s officials also agreed to convert .
The July protests were triggered by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and enforcement of the lockdown Emergency Decree and spread nationwide. On 3 August, two student groups publicly raised demands to reform the monarchy, breaking a long taboo of publicly criticising the monarchy.
The top 10 richest in Thailand are: Chearavanont brothers; US$27.3 billion. Chalerm Yoovidhya; $20.2 billion. Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi; $10.5 billion. Chirathivat family; $9.5 billion. Sarath Ratanavadi; $6.8 billion. Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha ; $3.8 billion. Prachak Tangkaravakoon; $3.1 billion.
The world’s richest king, his mysterious fortune and Thailand’s protesters who want answers. Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn is carried on a palanquin during his coronation in Bangkok in 2019.
List of royalty by net worth
Rank | Name | Net worth |
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1 | Vajiralongkorn | $43 billion — $30 billion |
2 | Hassanal Bolkiah | $28 billion — $20 billion |
3 | Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | $18 billion |
4 | Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan | $15.0 billion |
Islam is a minority faith in Thailand , with statistics suggesting 4.9 percent of the population are Muslim . Figures as high as 5 percent of Thailand’s population have also been mentioned. Most Thai Muslims are Sunnis, although Thailand has a diverse population that includes immigrants from around the world.
Thai kings throughout the centuries took multiple wives – or consorts. The last time a Thai king took an official consort was in the 1920s and the title has not been used since the country became a constitutional monarchy in 1932.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand died at the age of 88 on 13 October 2016 , after a long illness. A year-long period of mourning was subsequently announced. A royal cremation ceremony took place over five days at the end of October 2017.
Government of Thailand
Royal Thai Government | |
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Leader | Prime Minister |
Appointed by | HM The King of Thailand |
Main organ | Cabinet |
Responsible to | National Assembly of Thailand |