“Thailand elections: Opposition leads in parliamentary race with hopes to end military influence”

The opposition seems to have the best chance of victory in the parliamentary elections in Thailand. According to the first results, the Pheu Thai party (For the Thai) is leading, followed by a second opposition party, Move Forward (Phak Kao Klai).

The election battle is between populist opposition parties and conservative parties that support the establishment and the military. For the past nine years, the country has been ruled by the military or parties supported by the military.

The majority seems to want to go in a different direction, according to the first results.

If the opposition wins, that is no guarantee for another regime in the country. A new coalition must receive the support of the Senate, which consists largely of politicians designated by the military.

The Electoral Commission expects a high turnout. The expectation was that 80 percent of the 52 million Thai voters would vote.

Pheu Thai is led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, who ruled at the beginning of this century, and niece of Yingluck Shinawatra, who came to power ten years later. Her party mainly counts on the support of farmers in the north and northeast of Thailand.

The progressive party Move Forward, led by Pita Limjaroenrat, is a party of mainly highly educated young people who openly oppose the heavy punishments for insulting the royal family. Supporters of this party hope that the influence of the military in politics will come to an end.