Time to curb spending

Thailand is facing an avalanche of environmental, economic and political crises, without light at the end of the tunnel.

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Without stronger leadership and more effective governance, the situation is likely to worsen, driven by years of state inefficiency and neglect.

The first major shock came in March, when an earthquake in Myanmar triggered the collapse of a 30-storey building in Bangkok. The tragedy exposed deep-rooted issues, including poor building standards, lax oversight, foreign nominee abuse and suspected corruption, made worse by the fact the building belonged to the State Audit Office, an agency meant to hold others accountable.

In April, Thailand faced a new economic blow as the United States imposed a steep 36% tariff on its exports under President Donald Trump's broad protectionist push. With the US as Thailand's top export market, and global growth slowing, the country now faces a major economic storm.