Thailand votes: Three-way battle for power

Vote counting was underway in Thailand’s early general election on Sunday, seen as a three-way race among competing visions of progressive, populist and old-fashioned patronage politics. The battle for support from 53 million registered voters comes against a backdrop of slow economic growth and heightened nationalist sentiment. While more than 50 parties are contesting the polls, only three — the People’s Party, Bhumjaithai, and Pheu Thai - have the nationwide organisation and popularity to gain a winning mandate.

A simple majority of the 500 elected lawmakers selects the next prime minister.No outright winner expected. Local polls consistently project that no single party will gain a majority, necessitating the formation of a coalition Government. Although the progressive People’s Party is seen as favoured to win a plurality, its reformist politics aren’t shared by its leading rivals, which may freeze it out by joining forces to form

a Government.The People’s Party, led by Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, is the successor to the Move Forward Party, which won the most seats in the House of Representatives in 2023, but was blocked from forming a Government by conservative lawmakers and then forced to dissolve. “I think we will get the mandate from the people, and we promised the people that we will form the people’s Government to bring policies that benefit all, not a few in the country,” Natthaphong told reporters after casting his ballot in Bangkok. 

Reformist party softens its pitch. His party’s platform continues to promise sweeping reforms of the military, police and judiciary, appealing to youth and urban voters. Legal constraints have led it to set aside demands for reform of a law that metes out harsh penalties for criticism of the monarchy, while putting new emphasis on economic issues. 

Softening its politics risks weakening its core support, already at risk because the last election had positioned it squarely as the alternative to nine previous years of military-led Government, a situation it can’t fruitfully exploit this time.

At the same time, its positions critical of the military can be a political liability with the surge of patriotism that emerged during last year’s border clashes with Cambodia, said Napon Jatusripitak, director of the Centre for Politics and Geopolitics at Thailand Future, a Bangkok-based think. Voters cast their ballot at a polling station during a general election in Bangkok.