Prime Minister Anutin Charnavirakul has claimed victory in Thailand’s general election, with early vote counts putting his ruling conservatives well ahead of their rivals.
Anutin said his success belonged to “all Thais, no matter whether you voted for us or not”, after his party’s expected result defied opinion polls that had placed the reformist People’s Party ahead.
With 56% of the votes counted, Anutin’s Bhumjaithai party projected to win 197 seats in Bangkok’s 500-seat parliament, with the People’s Party in second place on 110.
People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut appeared to concede the election, saying he was ready to serve in opposition if Anutin could form a government.
The election was called after several coalition governments collapsed, giving the country three prime ministers in as many years.
While no party is projected to gain an overall majority, paving the way for coalition talks, Anutin is now almost certain to stay in office.
Elections in Thailand are often unpredictable, and so it proved this time.
This shock result is a huge disappointment for the People’s Party, which had expected to improve on its winning performance of three years ago.
But a widely expected “orange wave” of support for its young, idealistic candidates did not materialise.
The party, which won the election in 2023 but was blocked from taking power, found itself pushed into second place by Anutin’s pragmatic conservatives.
The reformists will remain in opposition for now. The feared crisis that could have occurred had they won, and once again been barred from office, has been averted.
