The opposition won a major victory against the pro-military faction.

Thailand's reformist opposition won the most seats and the largest share of the popular vote in the Southeast Asian nation's general election on May 14.

With almost all votes counted, the progressive Forward Party (MFP) and the populist Pheu Thai Party are expected to win 286 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives, according to preliminary results released by the Thai Election Commission on May 15. Together, the two parties secured 63% of the vote.

But there remains uncertainty about whether they will be able to form the next government, as the 250 members of the Senate, appointed by the military, also participate in the vote for the Prime Minister .

Preliminary results of the general election, updated by the Thai Election Commission at 9:47 AM on May 15, 2023. Photo: Bangkok Post

Coming in first in the general election was the MFP, a youth-led party that entered the race for the first time on a bold platform aimed at eroding the entrenched power of Thailand's royalist military elite.

With over 90% of the preliminary results published on the Thai Election Commission's website, the MFP appears poised to win the largest share of the House of Representatives with a total of 147 seats, including 112 seats allocated by constituency and 35 seats allocated by party list.

Analysts described the result as “excellent” because pre-election polls had predicted the MFP would come in second, behind Pheu Thai, the party deeply linked to the billionaire Shinawatra family and which has won the most seats in any Thai election since 2001.

In the general election on May 14, Pheu Thai is expected to win 138 seats, including 112 directly elected and 27 seats through the party list.

Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Forward Party (MFP), on election day in Thailand, May 14, 2023. Photo: Getty Images

“It is clear that Move Forward has earned the tremendous trust of the people and the country,” Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, leader of MFP, wrote on Twitter early on May 15.

He also wrote a tweet that was something akin to a statement that he was “ready to become the 30th Prime Minister of Thailand” and pledged to serve all Thai people regardless of whether they voted for him or not.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 36, leader of Pheu Thai, sent congratulations to the MFP on their victory in the general election, saying that whichever party receives the most votes will lead the next government .

“We are ready to negotiate with Move Forward, but we are waiting for the official results,” she told reporters in Bangkok on May 15. “I’m happy for them. We can work together.”

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai Party, on election day in Thailand, May 14, 2023. Photo: Bloomberg

The electoral success of Move Forward and Pheu Thai dominated the front pages of Thai newspapers on the morning of May 15th. The English-language Bangkok Post declared their poll results a “victory.” The newspaper stated that orange and red had “taken over the country,” alluding to the traditional colors of Move Forward and Pheu Thai. The Thai-language daily Matichon reported that Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward, was “close to” the top position.

“This is a very impressive victory for the Move Forward Party,” said Titipol Phakdeewanich, a professor of political science at Ubon Ratchathani University in eastern Thailand.

“It marks a major turning point for Thailand because it shows that most people in the country want change,” Titipol told Al Jazeera. “We are really seeing the power of the voters, who have fought hard for change this time.”

In third place in unofficial results is the Bhumjaithai Party of Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, which supports the legalization of cannabis in Thailand. As part of the current military-backed ruling coalition, the party is projected to win around 70 seats.

Meanwhile, the newly formed conservative United Thai National Party (UTNP) of incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who first came to power after a 2014 coup, ranked fifth with 36 seats. Prayuth's former party, Palang Pracharath, led by his deputy Prawit Wongsuwan, came in fourth with around 40 seats.

Thailand's interim Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, at the headquarters of the United Thai National Party (UTNP) in Bangkok after the general election concluded, May 14, 2023. Photo: Straits Times

Analysts say it will take weeks of negotiations before coalitions are formed and a prime minister is chosen.

Parties must have at least 25 seats to nominate a candidate, and a candidate needs to win at least 376 votes in both the House of Representatives and the Senate (a total of 700 seats) to become the next Prime Minister of Southeast Asia's second-largest economy.

The Senate is appointed by the pro-military government and is expected to vote in favor of parties or coalitions allied with the military.

This could turn smaller parties, such as the Bhumjaitai, into a "kingmaker" that dominates the appointment of the Prime Minister.

For the next few weeks, the Thai Election Commission is not expected to officially confirm the final number of seats each side won in the recent general election .

Minh Duc (According to Al Jazeera, Nikkei Asia)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/bau-cu-thai-lan-phe-doi-lap-thang-lon-truoc-phe-than-quan-doi-a607811.html