Suttasitt Macky Pottasak is a typical candidate of Thailand's People's Party: young, idealistic, and hardworking. He gave up a career in TV drama production in Bangkok to run in the last election, winning a rural seat near his home city of Nakhon Ratchasima from an old, established political family. He has adopted the hat and flag of Luffy, the main character in the Japanese anime series One Piece, which has featured in recent youth protests in Asia. He makes light-hearted videos about his party's policies every day, which are getting millions of views on social media.
Politics is something past generations made boring. I want to make it fun, he says. That's why I brought in Luffy and my video mini-series. We don't have money to buy votes. We are just ordinary citizens, but with a strong determination to solve the long-standing problems. I think the villagers can see that.
Opinion polls suggest that much of the Thai public agrees with the People's Party, consistently polling ahead of their rivals as the election on Sunday approaches. Yet, winning an election in Thailand has its complexities.
The last election, less than three years ago, produced a surprise win for the progressive Move Forward party, which campaigned on promises of extensive political and economic reforms. These included making Thailand's powerful military, and its largest businesses, more accountable, and reducing the heavy penalties under the notorious lese majeste law.
However, powerful conservative forces, particularly the unelected senate and the constitutional court, prevented Move Forward from forming a government, dissolving the party, and banning its leaders from politics. The court ruled that its proposals for the lese majeste law amounted to an attempt to overthrow the entire political system.
After three tumultuous years filled with short-lived coalition administrations, the sacking of two prime ministers by the constitutional court, and a border war with Cambodia, reformists are making another push for power under the new name, the People's Party. The youthful energy and idealism still attract large, excited crowds. During a rally in Nakhon Ratchasima, the new party leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, garnered a rock star’s welcome, with attendees eager for selfies and wrapping him in garlands of flowers.
The People's Party strives to transform Thailand, seeking to amend the constitution that allows significant control by unelected bodies like the constitutional court. They aim to streamline the bureaucracy, modernize education, and minimize the military's and large businesses' influence. This contrasts starkly with their main rivals, the conservative Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai parties, who have embraced more populist policies.
As anticipation mounts before the elections, speculation grows regarding potential moves to thwart the People's Party. A case has been filed against 44 of its key figures – including numerous parliamentary candidates – by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, presumably linked to their endorsement of the controversial lese majeste proposals. This could result in barring them from politics entirely, complicating their efforts to maintain democratic legitimacy amidst an atmosphere of mistrust and substantial institutional resistance.
Politics is something past generations made boring. I want to make it fun, he says. That's why I brought in Luffy and my video mini-series. We don't have money to buy votes. We are just ordinary citizens, but with a strong determination to solve the long-standing problems. I think the villagers can see that.
Opinion polls suggest that much of the Thai public agrees with the People's Party, consistently polling ahead of their rivals as the election on Sunday approaches. Yet, winning an election in Thailand has its complexities.
The last election, less than three years ago, produced a surprise win for the progressive Move Forward party, which campaigned on promises of extensive political and economic reforms. These included making Thailand's powerful military, and its largest businesses, more accountable, and reducing the heavy penalties under the notorious lese majeste law.
However, powerful conservative forces, particularly the unelected senate and the constitutional court, prevented Move Forward from forming a government, dissolving the party, and banning its leaders from politics. The court ruled that its proposals for the lese majeste law amounted to an attempt to overthrow the entire political system.
After three tumultuous years filled with short-lived coalition administrations, the sacking of two prime ministers by the constitutional court, and a border war with Cambodia, reformists are making another push for power under the new name, the People's Party. The youthful energy and idealism still attract large, excited crowds. During a rally in Nakhon Ratchasima, the new party leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, garnered a rock star’s welcome, with attendees eager for selfies and wrapping him in garlands of flowers.
The People's Party strives to transform Thailand, seeking to amend the constitution that allows significant control by unelected bodies like the constitutional court. They aim to streamline the bureaucracy, modernize education, and minimize the military's and large businesses' influence. This contrasts starkly with their main rivals, the conservative Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai parties, who have embraced more populist policies.
As anticipation mounts before the elections, speculation grows regarding potential moves to thwart the People's Party. A case has been filed against 44 of its key figures – including numerous parliamentary candidates – by the National Anti-Corruption Commission, presumably linked to their endorsement of the controversial lese majeste proposals. This could result in barring them from politics entirely, complicating their efforts to maintain democratic legitimacy amidst an atmosphere of mistrust and substantial institutional resistance.
