Thailand's public went out to vote Sunday in parliamentary elections that could spell the end of military junta control after nearly a decade of generals' rule over the Southeast Asian country.
However, the distorted electoral system and the military's control of the upper house of parliament could thwart the formation of a pro-democracy government even if the candidates of the Democratic factions win at the ballot box. Thailand's prime minister since 2014 is Prith Chan-ocha, a former military commander and strong supporter of the military and royal family. The prime minister has waged a negative campaign in recent weeks warning that the opposition will cause political chaos in the country.
Thailand's opposition leader, Pentogatran Shinawatra, votes in parliamentary elections // Photo: Reuters
Polls, however, have shown that many Thais, especially younger ones, are interested in change and democracy. Fu Thai, the party of exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is expected to win the largest number of seats in parliament. A huge election conference organized by the party was attended by the daughter of the exiled leader, Pentogatran Shinawatra, one of the three candidates of the various factions for prime minister. "This is a historic day of transition from junta rule to democratic rule," the leader told the crowd.
The Forward Movement, the most progressive party in Thailand's political system, has also surged in the polls after sweeping the country's younger population with a frenetic and up-to-date election campaign. The party promised to "demilitarize politics" and break government monopolies on trade and services.
An elderly woman votes in Thailand's parliamentary elections,
Monday's election is the country's first since a protest by the country's young people and students in 2020, aimed at challenging the Thai royal family's deep control of the political system. Thailand has legislation banning direct and open criticism of the royal family, whose popularity has plummeted in recent years.
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