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THAILAND’S political scene reached fever pitch on Friday as parties launched their final campaign rallies ahead of Sunday’s general election, set against a backdrop of sluggish economic growth, rising nationalist sentiment, and allegations of corruption and cyber-linked financial manipulation.
AP reported on Friday that the vote comes just months after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved parliament in December, triggering a snap election to pre-empt a potential no-confidence motion over proposed constitutional amendments.
Anutin assumed office only three months earlier, following the court-mandated removal of his predecessor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, amid ethical controversies.
The political manoeuvring unfolded as Thailand faced a tense border clash with Cambodia.
Anutin seeks to secure another term through his conservative Bhumjaithai Party.
He has positioned himself as a wartime leader during the border dispute, emphasising national security and economic stimulus after his popularity suffered from deadly floods in southern provinces and scandals involving senior officials.
Meanwhile, the progressive People’s Party, led by Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, maintains strong polling support with a structural reform agenda.
The party, which won the most House seats in 2023 under a different name but was blocked by conservative lawmakers from forming a government, must now secure a decisive mandate to overcome similar obstacles.
The Pheu Thai Party, once dominant under former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, campaigns on economic revival and familiar populist measures, including cash handouts.
Its prime ministerial candidate, Thaksin’s nephew Yodchanan Wongsawat, aims to restore the party’s political prominence despite the historical ousting of two previous Pheu Thai prime ministers by court rulings and Thaksin’s own imprisonment.
The 500-member House of Representatives will be composed of 400 constituency-elected lawmakers and 100 party-list nominees, with the prime minister to be chosen by the House. Analysts predict no single party will achieve a majority, setting the stage for intense coalition negotiations reminiscent of the 2023 outcome.
“While the People’s Party may secure the most seats, it faces major challenges in forming alliances due to its reform agenda, particularly reforms affecting the military,” political analyst Somchai Prasert said. “A Bhumjaithai-led coalition is more probable, as it is more palatable to conservative elements invested in maintaining the status quo.”
Voters will also participate in a referendum to decide whether Parliament should be authorised to draft a new constitution to replace the 2017 military-backed charter.
Pro-democracy groups view the vote as essential for curbing the influence of unelected institutions, including the military and judiciary, while conservatives argue that the measure risks destabilising political safeguards.
As campaigning concludes, Thailand heads into a highly uncertain electoral contest that could reshape the balance of power between reformist and conservative forces, with economic recovery and national identity at the centre of voters’ concerns. - February 6, 2026