Millions of Thais went to the polls on Sunday to vote for the country’s new government. The vote count is now in full swing.
– Just as you thought, it is the pro-democratic, change-prone parties that are moving forward, says TV4 Nyhetern’s Karin Bülow Orrje, who monitors the election on the ground in Thailand.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha has ruled Thailand since taking power in a military coup in 2014, but analysts now predict the election result could lead to major changes in the country’s top echelon.
The military-backed ruling parties are now under threat from the opposition, which is believed to have attracted many young voters with promises of democratization.
– They are punished a lot because of their economic policy, which many believe they have failed. But also how they handled the corona pandemic, says Karin Bülow Orrje.
Opinion polls instead show that the population yearns for change.
“A little surprising”
According to analysts, the party Phuea Thai, “For Thais”, with 36-year-old Paetongtarn Shinawatra as one of the main candidates, is expected to get the most votes. In a statement on Saturday, she said the election day would be a historic day when the country goes “from junta rule to democratic rule”.
Phuea Thai, and the other major opposition party Move Forward Party, took a strong lead as the early election results came in on Sunday night, reports AFP, citing Barron’s newspaper.
– It is a little surprising, Move forward is going stronger than expected, says Karin Bülow Orrje.
Attracted young voters
Shinawatra entered politics three years ago, and the party has strong support among the working class in both rural and urban areas. She has also presented herself as coming from a new generation to connect with the country’s young citizens – something that has proven to pay off, reports CNN.
With promises of democratization, Paetongtarn Shinawatra is believed to have attracted many young voters. Even the opposition party Phak Kao Kai, led by Pita Limjaroenrat, threatens the ruling parties who want to see democratic reforms. This party is also popular among the younger electorate.
The Prime Minister is elected in July
But it is not only Sunday’s results that will determine who will rule Thailand in the future. The prime minister is first elected in July in connection with a session in the country’s parliament and senate, according to the AP news agency.
The turnout among the country’s eligible voters is said to have been record high. According to Thailand’s election commission, 80 percent of the country’s 52 million eligible voters went to the polls on Sunday, reports Reuters.