Thailand’s rival parties hold final rallies later on Friday in a last-ditch push to win over undecided voters among a public craving change but still deeply split over the remedy for years of ulcerous political and economic decline.
The reformist People’s Party is expected to win the most seats in Sunday’s ballot, with many of the 3 million first-time voters likely to endorse its plan to share stakes in the economy and power more equally.
But the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, led by caretaker prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul – a construction oligarch, pilot and cannabis legalisation advocate – is running close behind and is forecast to find it easiest to form a coalition government.
He is backed by Thailand’s major political dynasties and is riding a nationalist wave over a border war with Cambodia.
Tracking in third for now is Pheu Thai, the once all-conquering political vehicle of Thaksin Shinawatra, who is in jail and whose family fortunes have faded in recent years, but could yet prove instrumental in government formation post-election.
Whoever wins will become Thailand’s fourth prime minister in three years in a politically combustible country where experts say the rules are rigged to ensure the arch-conservative establishment is never away from power for long.
Chonburi, Kasikorn Research, Thailand, Bangkok, National Anti-Corruption Commission, Bhumjaithai Party, People's Party, Cambodia, Anutin Charnvirakul, Constitutional Court, Paetongtarn, Samut, Pheu Thai, Shinawatra, Thaksin#Thailand #prepares #vote #election #deliver #change1770369244
Anutin Charnvirakul
Bangkok
Bhumjaithai party
Cambodia
change
Chonburi
Constitutional Court
deliver
election
Kasikorn Research
National Anti-Corruption Commission
Paetongtarn
People's Party
Pheu Thai
Prepares
Samut
Shinawatra
Thailand
Thaksin
vote
