Thailand's Turbulent Election

Thailand’s Turbulent Election

Officers and Palang Pracharath supporters in Bangkok, Thailand

MARCH 24TH, 2019

BANGKOK, THAILAND - A flurry of yellow-clad citizens consumed the heart of Bangkok during their first election in 5 years since a military coup d’état overthrew the Thai government in 2014. Defined as a royal color, adorning yellow displays loyalty to the Thai King, Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, known simply as Rama X. No party reflected that loyalty more than the military-backed Palang Pracharath Party, and under the watchful gaze of the thousands of portraits of the king, displayed the utmost confidence in the results of the election.

The coup was headed by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, forming a military junta called National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). A politically active younger generation was expected to turn up to vote, but it was uncertain whether it was enough to switch out the current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is backed by the military. Allied with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, exiled during a 2006 coup, the pro-democracy Pheu Thai Party is the main opposer to the Palang Pracharath Party. The results of the elections will be at the very latest released on March 9th but concerns over vote manipulation by the Election Commission has Pheu Thai supporters worried.

A new constitution was drafted in 2017, with support from Vijiralonkorn, but many were concerned about the motive for change. Tyrell Haberkorn, a fellow of the Department of Political & Social Change at the Australian National University, said that "the new constitution creates a permanent place for the military in government and seeks to normalize their intervention.” There is little surprise that the military will retain a firm grasp on the Thai government, but will face stern opposition in parliament, creating the potential for a non-functioning government with neither side getting what they want.