hailand is a constitutional monarchy, with a bicameral parliament. King Rama IX has been head of state since 1946 and is responsible for appointing half of the members of the Senate (the other half are elected) on recommendation from the Senate Selection Commission, made up of both elected and appointed officials, and the Prime Minister who acts as the head of government. The lower house is democratically elected and is the primary legislative branch of the Thai government.
The country has been embroiled in anti-government protests since November of last year, and has faced political unrest for close to a decade, following a military coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006. Opponents of Mr. Shinawatra have consistently charged him of corruption and operating the government for his own financial gain. Protesters, who are largely middle class Bangkok residents, fear that the 2011 election of Mr. Shinawatra’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, is allowing the former primer minister to hold onto power while in exile outside the country.
The political turmoil has meant that legislative policy has taken something of a backseat over the last eight years, which has stalled the passage of meaningful and needed reform within the education system. This is despite a national education budget that has doubled over the last decade.