General Rangsit of the Economic Party proposes a tough anti-corruption measure by collecting signatures from MPs to submit amendments to three laws imposing the death penalty for corruption offenses on both bribe givers, receivers, and corrupt government officials, with no sentence reductions allowed.
At 09:30 on 17 September 2026 at the Parliament, General Rangsit Kitiyanat Sap, leader of the Economic Party, and Kris Potranan, party-list MP of the Economic Party, held a press conference to propose amendments to three laws prescribing the death penalty for corruption and repeated offenses. The proposed laws include amendments to the Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the Corrections Act. These amendments introduce the death penalty for corruption offenses for both bribe givers and receivers, eliminate sentence reductions, and strengthen penalties for corrupt government officials and the justice system.
General Rangsit said the Economic Party has an anti-corruption policy addressing issues that affect investor and tourist confidence. Currently, Thailand's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) stands at 33 out of 100, ranked 116th worldwide, reflecting concerns about the country's transparency. One reason foreign investors and certain groups operate in Thailand is due to insufficiently strict anti-corruption laws and measures. Therefore, the Economic Party drafted legislation to strengthen anti-corruption enforcement, introducing the death penalty as the maximum punishment for corruption for both givers and receivers, with no sentence reductions allowed. After a court verdict, defendants may appeal within one year, but if evidence fails to overturn the judgment, the sentence will be executed. The draft also covers repeated offenses and raises penalties for corrupt government officials under Section 157 of the Penal Code, including extending these rules to justice officials such as judges, prosecutors, investigators, and law enforcement officers. The three draft laws are completed. With three current MPs, the Economic Party is gathering 17 more signatures to meet the required 20 MPs to submit the amendment to the Speaker of the House for further consideration.