They say the first hundred days define a presidency. Anutin Charnvirakul's might be defined by the first hundred hours.
Day One, Problem Twelve
Academics are already warning that Thailand's new prime minister has only a narrow window to prove his administration can manage the deepening energy crisis, according to Bangkok Post. There will be no honeymoon period — the problems arrived before the moving boxes did.
The government's first major consumer initiative, the revived "Khon La Khrueng Plus" co-payment scheme, has already missed its mark. What was supposed to be a crowd-pleasing campaign promise has landed with a thud, failing to meaningfully address the cost-of-living pressure that's crushing household budgets.
Democrat Party deputy leader Korn Chatikavanij isn't mincing words either, urging the government to investigate refinery profits rather than asking operators to donate excess earnings. As he pointed out, asking for donations isn't governance — it's charity.
The Oil Hoarding Scandal
PM Anutin himself announced the discovery of extensive oil hoarding and market manipulation, committing to legal action and ordering a comprehensive investigation, as reported by The Thaiger. The DSI is preparing to summon PC Siam Petroleum in Surat Thani over hoarding allegations that could be treated as a special case.
The timing is brutal. Ordinary Thais are watching fuel prices climb daily while evidence mounts that significant volumes of fuel are being diverted and stockpiled. The optics of an energy crisis combined with an oil hoarding scandal are the kind of thing that ends political careers.
Airlines Are Making Their Own Decisions
While the government deliberates, the private sector is already acting. Thai AirAsia and Thai AirAsia X are suspending selected domestic and international routes for summer 2026 as the oil crisis lifts jet fuel costs, according to Nation Thailand. The aviation regulator expects broader flight cuts after Songkran.
For tourism — Thailand's economic lifeline — this is a direct hit. Fewer flights mean fewer visitors, which means less revenue flowing through every hotel, restaurant, and tuk-tuk in the country.
There is a sliver of diplomatic hope. Thailand is working with Oman to reopen Strait of Hormuz access for essential cargo following the Mayuree Naree incident, and early signs suggest limited traffic may be resuming. French, Japanese, and Omani-linked vessels have crossed the strait, offering rare signs of easing pressure on this vital shipping route.
The North Can't Breathe
Three provinces — Chiang Mai, Lamphun, and Phayao — have been declared emergency disaster zones due to hazardous air quality. In Chiang Mai, PM2.5 has surged past 400 micrograms per cubic metre, with visibility collapsing to dangerous levels, according to Nation Thailand. Nan Province has gone further, ordering a month-long ban on forest entry across nine reserves and threatening jail time for arsonists.
Five prime ministers, five crises, and one question: can any Thai leader navigate a multi-front emergency where the problems are simultaneously economic, environmental, and geopolitical? Anutin is about to find out.
Source: Bangkok Post, Nation Thailand, The Thaiger
