Govt as cupid? Thai party proposes matchmaking scheme to tackle low birth rate crisis – Firstpost

Thailand’s birth rate is falling sharply as the general election nears. In response, a political party has suggested the government support citizens find romantic partners.

The proposal, aimed at reversing declining fertility, comes from the New Alternative Party and has drawn both attention and debate across the Southeast Asian nation.

Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Mongkolkit Suksintharanon says that if his party wins power in the February 8 election, the government would take on a more personal role in helping singles form relationships, as reported by Bloomberg. The idea, he believes, could lead to more marriages, and more babies.

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“If elected, we would aid arrange husbands or wives for people without a suitable partner,” Mongkolkit remarked in a social media post over the weekend outlining the policy. And if the initial pairing doesn’t work out? He added the state could step in again to find a modern match.

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A dramatic response to a demographic shift

Thailand’s fertility rate has plummeted in recent decades, leading to concerns about a shrinking population, an ageing workforce and long-term economic slowdown.

The total number of births has dipped far below replacement levels, a stark contrast from earlier generations when larger families were the norm.

Thailand now has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, causing political parties to come up with novel solutions ahead of voters heading to the polls. While larger parties have offered more conventional incentives, such as monthly child allowances or expanded family benefits, Mongkolkit’s state matchmaking plan takes things in a markedly different direction.

He has claimed the scheme could potentially help double Thailand’s annual births to about 800,000 babies a year if widely adopted.

Critics say the idea could be more symbolic than practical, a way for a smaller party to grab headlines in a crowded election season. State involvement in private life—especially in something as personal as choosing a partner—has struck some observers as excessive or even intrusive. But supporters argue the drastic demographic shift calls for bold thinking.

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The proposed programme, New Alternative says, would be open to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples, giving participants the choice of Thai or foreign partners.

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