Thai politician Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, secretary-general and prime ministerial candidate of the New Alternative Party, who has repeatedly sparked social debate with controversial proposals such as the public introduction of a “one wife, four husbands” system, has recently thrown out another bold policy idea: the comprehensive legalization of adult industries, including pornography and sex workers.
Mongkolkit recently posted on his personal Facebook, using hashtags such as "#NewAlternativePartyPolicy#No.10#", proposing the full legalization of pornographic books, pornographic websites (including Pornhub), adult media, sex workers, and sex toys, and bringing the relevant adult industries under legal and national regulatory frameworks. His statements quickly triggered an uproar in Thai society.
Thai netizens responded with polarization. Some left humorous and mocking comments, while others openly supported the policy as “progressive” and “open.” However, many netizens also voiced concerns about the social impact, moral boundaries, and practical feasibility of such policies.
In fact, Mongkolkit is known for his bold statements and out-of-the-box policies. Earlier, he publicly proposed legalizing “one wife, four husbands,” advocating for breaking traditional marriage norms to meet the needs of modern society—a statement that provoked strong backlash from religious circles, academia, and conservative groups at the time.
In addition, he has put forward a number of other reform ideas challenging social ethics and existing systems, often described externally as “attention-seeking,” but also frequently becoming the focus of public opinion as a result.
Some commentators pointed out that Mongkolkit’s continuous release of highly controversial policy suggestions may be aimed at attracting voter attention and generating exposure and discussion for the New Alternative Party through “topic politics”; however, whether these proposals have well-developed policy planning and executable feasibility remains to be seen.
As of now, the New Alternative Party has yet to provide further details regarding the specifics, legislative framework, or implementation mechanisms of the aforementioned policies.