NACC Hosts Dialogue with Political Leaders! Global Anti-Corruption Lessons Inform Thailand’s Proactive Political Governance Strategy
จากไชต์: Office of The National Anti - Corruption Commission (ONACC)
จำนวนผู้เข้าชม: 41
NACC Hosts Dialogue with Political Leaders! Global Anti-Corruption Lessons Inform Thailand’s Proactive Political Governance Strategy
On 30 June 2025, The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), through its Office of Research and Academic Services, held a workshop titled “Lessons Learned and Good Practices from Anti-Corruption Efforts Abroad Toward Oversight and Strengthening of Good Governance in Thai Politics.” The event was honored by the participation of representatives from the World Justice Project (WJP), China National Academy of Governance (CAG), the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) of the Republic of Korea, and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) of the Republic of Indonesia, who shared experiences on anti-corruption and political good governance. The workshop also included a discussion forum with representatives from Thai political parties to jointly explore a proactive strategic direction that aligns with the Thai context.
Global Lessons…Toward New Challenges in Building Political Good Governance in Thailand International representatives and anti-corruption organizations shared problems, key lessons, and proposed directions for anti-corruption and promoting political good governance in Thailand.
Mr. Kamel Ayadi, Board Member of the World Justice Project (WJP), pointed out that a major reason why anti-corruption measures in many countries fail is due to a lack of genuine political will and an overreliance on perception-based indices, without deeply examining structural or systemic factors within each country. He suggested that countries develop transparency indicators based on facts and local context (fact-based indicators) instead of relying solely on perception indices. He emphasized that corruption suppression cannot be sustainable without cultivating a “culture of integrity” and designing comprehensive prevention systems.
In addition, Professor Zhu Lingjun of the China National Academy of Governance (CAG) shared lessons from the People’s Republic of China, which has long practiced the “three-pronged approach”—strict punishment to ensure people “do not dare to be corrupt,” system design to ensure they “cannot be corrupt,” and value cultivation in families and communities so they “do not want to be corrupt.” He cited the results of Operation “Sky Net,” which brought over 10,000 fugitives to justice. The integration of law, party discipline, and culture gives China’s measures strength in both structural and symbolic dimensions.
For the Republic of Korea, Mr. Jungho Son from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) stressed that sustainable political reform requires strong enforcement mechanisms. Laws designed to prevent conflicts of interest are key—such as requiring politicians to declare personal assets, banning the use of power for personal gain, and extending penalties to close relatives or associates. He noted that political transparency can only be achieved when citizens, scholars, and civil society jointly form a consensus and uphold high ethical expectations for politicians.
Finally, Ms. Dotty Rahmatiasih from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) of the Republic of Indonesia presented a strategy to develop a Political Party Integrity System (SIPP) that encourages political parties to embed internal ethics as a core practice. This includes transparent candidate selection systems, internal oversight mechanisms, auditable financial and accounting systems, and ethics training for party members. She also proposed that the state provide financial support to parties that genuinely implement good governance, with strict conditions and evaluation criteria—ensuring that support is not merely “money without accountability.”
Voices from Thailand… When Political Parties Are Ready to Change… NACC Is Ready to Move
In the afternoon, the NACC and representatives from political parties—including the Pheu Thai Party, Prachachon Party, Democrat Party, Chartthaipattana Party, Thai Sang Thai Party, and Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party—participated in a dialogue facilitated by Professor
Dr. Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee from the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University. A key point of consensus emerged: meaningful change must begin with the recognition that “the old normal can no longer continue.” Participants voiced a frank and critical reflection—that Thailand cannot restore public trust if politicians and high-ranking officials who abuse power continue to enjoy impunity, while only lower-level officials are punished for corruption. Party representatives proposed that the justice system must take serious and proactive steps to hold those in power accountable. They also called for cross-party alliances to promote justice that is equitable and non-discriminatory. Furthermore, they emphasized the urgent need for an effective and practical whistleblower protection system—one that is truly operational, not merely a legal provision—so that public officials, private sector actors, and citizens can report corruption without fear.
Political party representatives agreed on the importance of jointly signing an Anti-Corruption Ethics Pact between political parties, the NACC, and relevant agencies. This pact must go beyond signatures on paper—it should become a shared political code of conduct. All parties that sign must genuinely uphold its commitments, providing a basis for public accountability during elections. Moreover, the concept of “ethics” should be designed to fit each organization’s context and must be enforced with meaningful disciplinary consequences for violations.
Political representatives also reflected on the key role of the NACC in seriously addressing conflicts of interest. Political parties proposed that the NACC establish a dedicated unit to investigate and report on conflicts of interest directly, to prevent “gray areas” that create loopholes for corruption.
The suggestions gathered from this conference mark the beginning of a joint effort between the NACC and political parties to raise the standards of political good governance in Thailand in a concrete way. The NACC will take proposals and feedback from both international lessons and Thai political perspectives to formulate a strategic plan to promote governance in politics. The agency will also continue discussions with all political parties to jointly design practical measures, mechanisms, and approaches that are suited to the Thai context—paving the way for real change and laying a new foundation for a political system rooted in good governance and genuine public participation.
Related
