Two pro-democracy opposition parties secured a stunning victory Sunday in Thailand’s general election, as millions cast their votes on who should lead the country’s government.
With more than 99% of votes counted early Monday local time, the Election Commission forecast the Move Forward Party (MFP) to win 113 out of a total of 400 constituency seats, and the Pheu Thai party 112 seats. A further 100 seats will be allocated to parties on a proportional basis.
Prayuth’s United Thai Nation Party held the fifth spot with 23 House seats.
Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, described the outcome as "sensational" and vowed to stay true to his party's values when forming a government, Reuters reported.
"It will be anti- dictator-backed, military-backed parties, for sure," he told reporters. "It's safe to assume that minority government is no longer possible here in Thailand."
Pita said a coalition deal between the MFP and Pheu Thai is "definitely in the cards,” Agence France-Presse reported.
Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra congratulated MFP on their success and said "we can work together."
The Election Commission has up to 60 days to officially confirm vote counts.
Saowanee T. Alexander, a professor at Ubon Ratchathani University in northeastern Thailand, told The Associated Press that returns so far were a good sign for democratization.
“This is people saying that we want change. ... They are saying that they could no longer take it. The people are very frustrated. They want change, and they could achieve it,” she said.
Thailand is seeing its first general elections since 2019, when the current prime minister, Prayuth was elected as civilian leader, although his time as leader could be up once the results are in.
Sunday’s voter turnout was about 39.5 million, or 75% of the more than 52 million registered voters.
People battled sweltering heat in Bangkok, with polling stations set up all over the country’s capital.
Schools, temples, and skyscrapers all accommodated makeshift polling booths, as voters turned up showing their identification cards before casting votes for two ballots –one for their choice of local constituency MP’s and another for their favored party.
Ahead of polls closing, VOA spoke to several Thai residents, who gave some insights on why they voted.
Sira, 41, who voted in a polling station at Soi Sukhumvit said his decision to vote was to have more checks on government decisions.
“We have a military government for eight, nine years, so we show our voice. I think the basic things, we need someone to monitor the government, because the last eight years we have not had any chance to inspect anything,” he said.
Prayuth has been the leader of Thailand since the coup in 2014 and is seen as a loyalist with close monarchy ties.
Fon, 37, lives in Bang Rak, an old Bangkok neighborhood that was thought to be in favor of Prayuth.
“It’s quite old city around here. But the condominium that I live, I [moved] five years ago, maybe in there is a new generation [of people]. We want to see change in Thailand. We want the best economy and education. I’m in my mid-thirties, if I have a family, if I have children, in a country like it is [now], we cannot move forward,” she added.
Since 2020 Thailand has seen youth anti-government protests calling for reforms to the political system and monarchy. But a crackdown by authorities has since led to hundreds of people being charged under the country’s lese majeste law, which strictly prohibits criticism of the Thai monarchy.
Sai, 27, cast her vote in Din Daeng, a poor area of Bangkok, and home to anti-government protests in 2021.
“We would like to see a new generation who has the knowledge and ability to manage the country and develop in a better way. I want people to have the right to express their opinions in helping to serve the country. We want the results to be fair and the most transparent no matter what the outcome,” she said
Most of the general election centers around the economy.
Thailand saw a 6% decline in its economy in 2020 amid the pandemic, but saw a slow growth of only 2.8%, one of the lowest in Southeast Asia in 2022.
Political parties have promised higher wages, more subsidies, and other economic benefits as prices for utility bills have increased throughout the country.
Cindy, in her 60s, dressed up in orange with her husband, son and three daughters. She said their colors were obvious to who they were voting for. Orange is representative of the progressive Move Forward Party.
“We cannot be free to vote, we have been stuck. I want everything to be changed in Thailand and be [like the] international world. We don’t want to just be behind the world. We hope our country will get better,” she said.
Thailand’s National Assembly consists of a 500-member House of Representatives and 250-member, military-appointed Senate.
Thais voted for two types of MP’s, 400 for their local constituency representatives and 100 allocated by party. The next prime minister must win at least a majority of 376 votes.
Polls prior to voting showed Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 36 of the Pheu Thai party as leading the way. She is the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by the military in 2006 and has been living in exile since 2008. Paetongtarn has been using her father’s network, and appealing to voters in Thailand, including in rural areas, with promises of increasing minimum wage and an end to military conscription.
Some material for this article came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
