Thai Interior Ministry Addresses 2025 Local Government Exam Irregularities

On September 3, 2026, Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Leangprasert and Department of Local Administration (DLA) officials held a press conference to address corruption in the 2025 local government civil service examinations. The investigation, prompted by complaints from civil society groups in Sisaket province regarding irregularities, led to the decision to revoke the appointments of individuals found to have tampered with their exam scores.

Minister Worasit clarified that the decision to replace Burapha University with Srinakharinwirot University as the exam organizer was unrelated to the Minister of Interior. The ministry is now working to restore fairness by facilitating the transfer of legitimate candidates by November 2026. Furthermore, the government intends to reclaim funds and benefits from those involved in the fraud. While the DLA lacks direct authority over local administrative organizations (LAOs) that may have hired disqualified individuals, the ministry is coordinating with anti-corruption agencies to ensure accountability, stating that no official, regardless of rank, will be exempt from investigation.

For residents and expatriates, this development highlights ongoing efforts to reform public sector recruitment. While the ministry is actively correcting the process, it remains to be seen how effectively local organizations will comply with the removal of disqualified staff and whether further legal actions will be taken against high-ranking officials implicated in the scheme.