With Nippon Paint's thoughtfully curated colour palettes, updating your interiors becomes a meaningful way to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse.
A woman votes during the general election at a polling station in Bangkok, Thailand , Feb 8, 2026. - Photo: Reuters BANGKOK: Voters in Thailand went to the polls Sunday in an early general election seen as a three-way race among competing visions of progressive, populist and old-fashioned patronage politics.
The battle for support from 53 million registered voters comes against a backdrop of slow economic growth and heightened nationalist sentiment . While more than 50 parties are contesting the polls, only three - the People’s Party, Bhumjaithai, and Pheu Thai - have the nationwide organization and popularity to gain a winning mandate.Local polls consistently project that no single party will gain a majority, necessitating the formation of a coalition government. Although the progressive People’s Party is seen as favored to win a plurality, its reformist politics aren't shared by its leading rivals, which may freeze it out by joining forces to form a government. The People’s Party, led by Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, is the successor to the Move Forward Party , which won the most House seats in 2023, but was blocked from forming a government by conservative lawmakers and then forced to dissolve. Voters stand in a queue at a polling station to vote in the general election, in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb 8, 2026. - Photo: Reuters Its platform continues to promise sweeping reforms of the military, police and judiciary, appealing to youth and urban voters. Legal constraints have led it to set aside demands for reform of a law that metes out harsh penalties for criticism of the monarchy, while putting new emphasis on economic issues. Softening its politics risks weakening its core support, already at risk because the last election had positioned it squarely as the alternative to nine previous years of military-led government, a situation it can't fruitfully exploit this time. At the same time, with the army's reputation burnished by the surge of patriotism that emerged during last year's border clashes with Cambodia, its positions critical of the military can be a political liability, said Napon Jatusripitak, director of the Center for Politics and Geopolitics at Thailand Future, a Bangkok-based think tank. The Bhumjaithai Party, headed by incumbent Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul , is seen as the main defender and preferred choice of the royalist-military establishment. Anutin has been prime minister only since last September, after serving in the Cabinet of former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was forced out of office for an ethics violation regarding mishandling relations with Cambodia. He dissolved parliament in December to call a new election when he was threatened with a no-confidence vote. Subsequent border clashes with Cambodia allowed Anutin to recast himself as a wartime leader after his popularity initially slipped because of floods and financial scandals. His campaign focuses on national security and economic stimulus. Bhumjaithai, seen as the likeliest party to form the next government, benefits from an electoral strategy employing old-style patronage politics and a machine skilled at grassroots organising in the vote-rich northeast. The Pheu Thai Party, the latest political vehicle for billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, trades on populist policies innovated by its predecessor, the Thai Rak Thai party, which held power from 2001 until 2006, when it was ousted by a military coup. Thaksin-backed parties staged repeated electoral comebacks, only to be ousted by conservative-leaning courts and state watchdog agencies. It softened its politics enough by the 2023 election to be returned to power after being judged by the previously hostile royalist-military establishment to an acceptable alternative to the more progressive Move Forward party. The conservative court system rounded on it anyway - ousting two of its prime ministers over two years and ordering Thaksin imprisoned on old charges. The party now campaigns on economic revival and populist pledges like cash handouts, nominating Thaksin’s nephew, Yodchanan Wongsawat, as its lead candidate for prime minister. Sunday’s voting includes a referendum asking voters whether Thailand should replace its 2017 military-drafted constitution. The vote isn't on a proposed draft, but rather to decide whether to authorize parliament to begin a formal drafting process, which would require many further steps before coming to fruition. Pro-democracy groups view a new charter as a critical step toward reducing the influence of unelected institutions such as the military and judiciary, while conservatives warn that it could cause instability. - AP
General Election People's Party Bhumjaithai Pheu Thai Coalition Government Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut Anutin Charnvirakul Populist Policies Referendum
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Anutin dijangka kekalkan jawatan PM ThailandPewaris empayar pembinaan, Anutin Charnvirakul yang bertaraf bilionair dijangka akan kekal sebagai Perdana Menteri Thailand selepas pilihan raya umum diadakan pada Ahad ini.
Read more »
Murder suspect on run for 37 years escorted back to Hong Kong from ThailandNEW YORK, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Elon Musk used a common two-step merger process in SpaceX's purchase of xAI that had the dual benefit of avoiding the repayment of billions of dollars in debt while giving shareholders a tax advantage, according to people familiar with the transaction. It also protects SpaceX from any legal liability from xAI.
Read more »
Thailand votes in high-stakes election amid reform push, uncertain outcomeFeb 5 (Reuters) - European football's most prestigious prize found itself rubbing shoulders with American sports royalty this week, as the Champions League trophy made its first-ever appearance at Super Bowl festivities in San Francisco.
Read more »
PLS Plantations, Nippon Paper Group to explore feasibility of large-scale eucalyptus plantationApple Inc is scaling back plans for a virtual health coach, according to people with knowledge of the matter, part of an effort to rethink how the company approaches the burgeoning market for wellness services.
Read more »
Thailand votes again after three prime ministers in two yearsMILAN, Feb 6 (Reuters) - World skiing's governing body has moved swiftly to quash talk of ski jumpers injecting their penises with paraffin or hyaluronic acid to gain a competitive edge, but scientists and ski jumpers at the Winter Olympics say if true it would make perfect sense.
Read more »
How do I reduce my child's screen time?With Nippon Paint's thoughtfully curated colour palettes, updating your interiors becomes a meaningful way to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse.
Read more »