International Desk: The social and pro-democracy party Move Forward Party (MFP) won an incredible victory in Thailand’s general election, proving all poll results wrong. The party got 112 seats in the constituencies and 38 seats in the party list in 94.2 percent of the results obtained until 10:15 a.m. on Monday. Next in position is the Pew Thai Party of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s daughter, Paetongtern Shinawatra. The party won 113 constituencies and 29 on the party list. Several polls predicted that the Pew Thai Party would get more seats. On the other hand, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s new party, the United Thai Nation Party, has been overwhelmed by the military-backed government. The team is in fifth place. Ochar’s party got only 23 electoral seats and won 13 seats on the party list. News from Bangkok Post
The election results show that 41-year-old Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the MFP, is going to be the country’s new prime minister. The party became very popular with young people by agitating for the passage of the lèse-majesty law, which made criticism of the monarchy punishable by 15 years, and the reform of the military institutions.
No party got a majority in the elections. As a result, a coalition government should be formed. Meanwhile, the MFP was congratulated by second-placed Pew Thai Party leader Paytongtern Shinawatra. He said that his party is ready for talks to form a coalition government. Patongtern said they are waiting for the official results. They are also happy with this victory for MFP. He also said that he wants to work together.
Earlier, however, the MFPO had expressed interest in forming a coalition government. Pew Thai could form a coalition government with Move Forward and other opposition parties, party leader Pita Limjaroenrat said on Sunday afternoon.
However, there is no guarantee that pro-democracy parties will be able to come to power even if they get a big victory in the polls. In light of the 2017 constitution, 250 military-appointed senators can vote along with 500 elected lower house members to decide on the next prime minister. What will be the result? It cannot be said now.
Before this, voting started at 8 a.m. on Sunday and continued until 5 p.m. in 95,000 centers across the country. Voting for 500 seats in the country’s lower house of parliament has been held. Out of this, 400 direct election seats and 100 party list seats are available. The total number of voters in the country is 5 crore, or 2 million. Out of this, about 2.3 lakh voters have cast their votes in advance.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of the country claimed that there was no rigging in the election.
Analysts have cited several reasons for the downfall of the military-backed government that has been in power for a decade. According to them, the country’s rising cost of living, economic woes, slow pace of post-corona economic recovery, and lack of good governance have led voters to choose a new leadership.
