Thai voters head to the polls today in an election, marked as a historic turning point for shift, eight years after current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha took power in a 2014 coup. He is now running against the daughter of a Politician, who is the military’s main rival.
The opposition Pheu Thai Party, led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has been tipped to gain a majority of members in the 500-member lower House. After casting her vote, Paetongtarn stated that, every vote count is crucial in making change in Thailand, and that she is confidence about the outcome.
However, the next administration would not be determined solely by Today’s vote. The Prime Minister would be chosen in July by a joint session of the House, and the 250-member Senate. The winner must gain at least 376 votes, which is not likely to be achieved by the contesting parties in today’s ballot.
Pheu Thai won majority of seats in the 2019 election, but its contender, the military-backed Palang Pracharath Party, was able to form a coalition government with Prayuth Chan-ocha as prime minister. It was supported unanimously by the Senate, whose members represent the military’s conservative posture, who were nominated by the military administration following Prayuth’s takeover.
Prayuth is seeking for another term, but the military has split its support this year between two parties. Prayuth is supported by the United Thai Nation Party, while his deputy prime minister, Prawit Wongsuwan, a former general, is the Palang Pracharath candidate.
The economic downturn of Thailand, has been attributed to Prayuth incompetency. Also, his failure to address the pandemic and suppressing democratic changes, have all contributed to the frustrations among younger voters. Prayuth has however encouraged eligible voters to turn out and vote for him.
“The increased youth vote and general awareness of the damage caused by military rule are key factors likely to determine the results of this election,” Tyrell Haberkorn, a Thai studies specialist at the University of Wisconsin, said. “After nine years of military rule, people are ready for a change, even those who were not interested in rocking the boat before.”
Moreover, Pheu Thai Party becomes the newest party associated with known billionaire, Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin was overthrown as prime minister in a 2006 army coup. Thaksin happens to be the father of Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Pheu Party. Paentongtarn’s aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, was also overthrown as prime minister in a 2011 military coup, spearheaded by Prayuth.
Surveys have placed Pheu Thai and Paetongtarn, as the most popular of the three contesting parties and candidates for prime minister. Thus, the possibilities of Pheu Thai Party winning the elections, are considerably high. However, the military-backed conservative establishment, would be tough to be beaten.
“I think the conservative-royalist side, underpinning the military, the monarchy, their backs are against the wall. Change is coming and they have to find a way to deal with it,” Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University, averred.
This draws to the fact that, the Pheu Thai would have to be cautious in picking potential coalition allies following the election. Many feel that, Pheu Thai would hunt for a partner in the Palang Pracharath Party and its leader, Prawit, who had less to do with the 2014 coup.
Additionally, second in opinion polls, is the Move Forward Party. Their ideologies seem to click with that of the military. However, its vocal support for some reforms in the monarchy, are offensive to most conservatives, who see the institution as sacred.
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