Voters take a look at candidates listed on a show board earlier than getting into a voting station for the final election in Bangkok, on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.
Wason Wanichakorn/AP
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Wason Wanichakorn/AP
BANGKOK — Vote counting was underway in Thailand’s early basic election on Sunday, seen as a three-way race amongst competing visions of progressive, populist and old school patronage politics.
The battle for help from 53 million registered voters comes in opposition to a backdrop of gradual financial progress and heightened nationalist sentiment. Whereas greater than 50 events are contesting the polls, solely three — the Folks’s Social gathering, Bhumjaithai, and Pheu Thai — have the nationwide group and recognition to realize a profitable mandate.
A easy majority of the five hundred elected lawmakers selects the subsequent prime minister.
No outright winner anticipated
Native polls constantly challenge that no single get together will achieve a majority, necessitating the formation of a coalition authorities.
Though the progressive Folks’s Social gathering is seen as favored to win a plurality, its reformist politics aren’t shared by its main rivals, which can freeze it out by becoming a member of forces to type a authorities.
The Folks’s Social gathering, led by Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, is the successor to the Transfer Ahead Social gathering, which received essentially the most seats within the Home of Representatives in 2023, however was blocked from forming a authorities by conservative lawmakers after which pressured 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 instructed reporters after casting his poll in Bangkok.
Reformist get together softens its pitch
His get together’s platform continues to vow sweeping reforms of the army, police and judiciary, interesting to youth and concrete voters. Authorized constraints have led it to put aside calls for for reform of a regulation that metes out harsh penalties for criticism of the monarchy, whereas placing new emphasis on financial points.
Law enforcement officials and election volunteers put together for the final election at a voting station in Bangkok, on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.
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Softening its politics dangers weakening its core help, already in danger as a result of the final election had positioned it squarely as the choice to 9 earlier years of military-led authorities, a scenario it might’t fruitfully exploit this time.
On the identical time, its positions essential of the army generally is a political legal responsibility with the surge of patriotism that emerged throughout final yr’s border clashes with Cambodia, mentioned Napon Jatusripitak, director of the Middle for Politics and Geopolitics at Thailand Future, a Bangkok-based suppose tank.
The Bhumjaithai Social gathering, headed by incumbent Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, is seen as the principle defender and most well-liked selection of the royalist-military institution.
Anutin has been prime minister solely since final September, after serving within the Cupboard of his fast predecessor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was pressured out of workplace for an ethics violation relating to mishandling relations with Cambodia. He dissolved parliament in December to name a brand new election after he was threatened with a no-confidence vote.
Subsequent border clashes with Cambodia allowed Anutin to recast himself as a wartime chief after his recognition initially slipped due to floods and monetary scandals. His marketing campaign focuses on nationwide safety and financial stimulus.
“We have done everything that we had to, but we cannot force the mind of the people. We can only present ourselves, and hope that the people will have faith in us,” Anutin mentioned after casting ballots in northeastern Buriram province, his get together’s stronghold.
Bhumjaithai, seen because the likeliest get together to type the subsequent authorities, advantages from an electoral technique using old-style patronage politics and a machine expert at grassroots organizing within the vote-rich northeast.
Thaksin’s political machine
The Pheu Thai Social gathering is the most recent political automobile for billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin-backed events staged repeated electoral comebacks, solely to be ousted by conservative-leaning courts and state watchdog companies.
It softened its politics sufficient by the 2023 election to be returned to energy after being judged by the beforehand hostile royalist-military institution as an appropriate various to the extra progressive Transfer Ahead get together.
The conservative courtroom system rounded on it anyway — ousting two of its prime ministers over two years and ordering Thaksin imprisoned on previous prices. The get together now campaigns on financial revival and populist pledges like money handouts, nominating Thaksin’s nephew, Yodchanan Wongsawat, as its lead candidate for prime minister.
“I’m excited, because I think today will be another busy day for the country’s democracy,” Yodchanan instructed reporters after voting.
Sunday’s voting features a referendum asking voters whether or not Thailand ought to substitute its 2017 military-drafted structure.
The vote is not on a proposed draft, however somewhat to determine whether or not to authorize parliament to start a proper drafting course of, which might require many additional steps earlier than coming to fruition.
Professional-democracy teams view a brand new constitution as a essential step towards lowering the affect of unelected establishments such because the army and judiciary, whereas conservatives warn that it might trigger instability.
