Monday 09/February/2026 – 06:16 AM
Thailand is witnessing decisive general elections in light of strong competition between political parties, less than 100 days after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul assumed power, following the overthrow of the Pheu Thai Party government led by Baitongtarn Shinawatra against the backdrop of the crisis with Cambodia.
According to what was reported by Reuters, the “Phu Thai” party, supported by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is suffering from a decline in its popularity according to opinion polls, despite its adherence to political competition, at a time when the “Bhomjaitai” party, led by Anutin, continues to mobilize its supporters, especially in its stronghold in the city of Buriram in the northeast of the country.
In contrast, the People’s Progressive Party topped most opinion polls during the election campaign period, based on a platform calling for comprehensive structural reforms and an end to the political and economic deadlock in Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy.
A true test of Thailand’s mettle
Observers see the elections as a real test of Thailand’s ability to overcome years of political instability, marked by protests, military coups and conflict between the conservative establishment and democratic movements.
Polling stations closed their doors at five o’clock in the evening local time, amid expectations that the initial results would be issued within a few hours, while pre-election polls showed the difficulty of any party obtaining a single parliamentary majority.
The vote also coincided with a constitutional referendum on the possibility of replacing the 2017 constitution, supported by the army, with a new constitution that limits the influence of non-elected institutions, in a move that may redraw the political landscape in the country.
