Prime Minister Anutin Charnavirakul has claimed victory in Thailand's general election, with preliminary vote counts putting his ruling conservatives well ahead of their rivals. Anutin said his success belonged to 'all Thais, no matter whether you voted for us or not', after his party's expected result defied opinion polls that had placed the reformist People's Party ahead.
With 90% of the votes counted, Anutin's Bhumjaithai party is projected to win 194 seats in Bangkok's 500-seat parliament, with the People's Party in second place on 116. People's Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut appeared to concede the election, saying he was ready to serve in opposition if Anutin could form a government.
The election was called in December after the coalition led by Anutin collapsed after just three months. While no party is projected to gain an overall majority, Anutin is now almost certain to stay in office, with his Bhumjaithai likely to have more than double the number of seats it won in the last election in 2023.
Elections in Thailand are often unpredictable, and this shock result is a huge disappointment for the People's Party, which had expected to improve on its winning performance three years ago. Yet, a widely expected 'orange wave' of support for its young, idealistic candidates did not materialize. The party, which under a different name Move Forward won the election in 2023, but was blocked from taking power by the unelected senate, found itself pushed into second place this time by Anutin's pragmatic conservatives.
In the wake of this outcome, the party's standing was eroded partly by accusations of mishandling the border conflict with Cambodia and having its patriarch, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, jailed last September. Voters expressed a strong concern regarding the economy, indicating a desire for change. Alongside voting in the election, a referendum on reforming the constitution also took place, drawing significant interest.
With 90% of the votes counted, Anutin's Bhumjaithai party is projected to win 194 seats in Bangkok's 500-seat parliament, with the People's Party in second place on 116. People's Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut appeared to concede the election, saying he was ready to serve in opposition if Anutin could form a government.
The election was called in December after the coalition led by Anutin collapsed after just three months. While no party is projected to gain an overall majority, Anutin is now almost certain to stay in office, with his Bhumjaithai likely to have more than double the number of seats it won in the last election in 2023.
Elections in Thailand are often unpredictable, and this shock result is a huge disappointment for the People's Party, which had expected to improve on its winning performance three years ago. Yet, a widely expected 'orange wave' of support for its young, idealistic candidates did not materialize. The party, which under a different name Move Forward won the election in 2023, but was blocked from taking power by the unelected senate, found itself pushed into second place this time by Anutin's pragmatic conservatives.
In the wake of this outcome, the party's standing was eroded partly by accusations of mishandling the border conflict with Cambodia and having its patriarch, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, jailed last September. Voters expressed a strong concern regarding the economy, indicating a desire for change. Alongside voting in the election, a referendum on reforming the constitution also took place, drawing significant interest.
