Bangkok, Thailand — Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul secured a decisive victory in Sunday’s general election, with his Bhumjaithai Party emerging as the largest force in parliament, raising hopes of a more stable governing coalition after years of political uncertainty.
The snap election was called in mid-December amid a border dispute with Cambodia, a move analysts said was timed to capitalise on a surge in nationalist sentiment. The strategy appears to have paid off for Anutin, who took office after former premier Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party was ousted over the crisis, before dissolving parliament less than 100 days later.
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“With more than 90% of polling stations reporting, it’s clear we will have the most seats,” Anutin said while addressing reporters. “Bhumjaithai’s victory is a victory for all Thai people, whether they voted for us or not. We will do our utmost to serve the nation.”
Preliminary results released by the Election Commission showed Bhumjaithai holding a comfortable lead over the progressive People’s Party in second place, followed by the once-dominant Pheu Thai Party.
When he dissolved parliament, Anutin cited dysfunction and infighting among rival parties that made it impossible to govern effectively with a minority administration. Sunday’s outcome marks a dramatic turnaround for Bhumjaithai, which was not a leading contender in the 2019 and 2023 elections, when it won 51 and 71 seats respectively.
Thailand’s 500-member House of Representatives is elected through a mixed system, with 400 constituency seats decided by first-past-the-post voting and 100 party-list seats allocated according to each party’s share of the national vote.
Anutin said the results sent a “clear signal” from voters for Bhumjaithai to govern, adding that the party accepted the mandate under Thailand’s democratic system with the king as head of state. “This is the people’s win — all of them,” he said.
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