In brief
Following the recent general election in Thailand, Prime Minister Anutin Charnavirakul has announced his party's significant victory, achieving approximately 194 seats in the 500-seat parliament. This outcome marks a stark contrast to the predicted superiority of the reformist People's Party, which managed to secure only 116 seats. As Anutin prepares to form a government, the election results raise questions about the shifting political landscape in Thailand, particularly regarding the youth vote and grassroots support. The election outcome also indicates a potential restructuring in voter priorities after years of political unrest.
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.
This shock result is a huge disappointment for the People's Party, which had expected to improve on its winning performance three years ago. The widely expected orange wave of support for its young, idealistic candidates did not materialise, and Anutin's pragmatic conservatives have once again taken the lead.
In past elections, the People's Party had shown a strong performance, but this time they were unable to overcome their lack of local networks and were pushed into second by Anutin's strategic alliances.
The economic concerns were high during the elections, with voters expressing a desire for improvement. Anutin's party's appeal to conservative sentiments and populist promises appeared to resonate more strongly with voters than the reformist agenda of the People's Party.
In addition to the election, voters also participated in a referendum concerning reforms to the 2017 constitution. Initial counts indicate a favorable outcome for the proposed changes.
