Anutin says Thailand ‘Fails’ after corruption score sinks to 19-year low

2026-02-13 - 04:36

Bangkok — Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on 12 February 2026 said Thailand had effectively “failed” after its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score fell to the lowest level in 19 years. Following the announcement by Transparency International of the 2025 CPI, Thailand scored 33 out of 100, ranking 116th out of 182 countries — down one point from the previous year and the lowest since the country began being ranked. Anutin said the government was concerned about the result, noting that a score of 33 was “considered low — simply put, a failing grade” and could damage Thailand’s image by reinforcing perceptions of high corruption and low transparency. He said the government had summoned the secretary-general of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission to review the findings in detail and pledged to elevate anti-corruption reform to a national agenda item. The prime minister ordered Deputy Prime Minister Borwornsak Uwanno and PACC Secretary-General Phumisak Kasemsuk to accelerate legal and regulatory reforms, including amendments to laws, ministerial regulations and procedures, or the drafting of new legislation to strengthen anti-graft enforcement. Anutin stressed that corruption was not limited to bribery but extended to structural issues in approval and licensing systems, which affect investor confidence. He said the law on facilitating business operations must be strictly enforced, with a dedicated agency assigned to oversee implementation. He added that agencies including the PACC, the Anti-Money Laundering Office, the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission and the Board of Investment would coordinate to improve transparency and ensure strict enforcement against corrupt officials. Thailand is also moving forward with its bid to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which Anutin said would help raise standards of transparency and international credibility. “No matter which government takes office next, anti-corruption must remain an urgent national policy,” he said, warning that officials who violate transparency rules would face strict administrative and disciplinary penalties.