Pro-military party pulls ahead in Thailand’s first post-coup elections but confusion reigns

Bangkok, Thailand (CNN)A pro-military party that wants junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha to remain in power has taken a slight lead in Thailand’s elections on Sunday, according to early results from the country’s Election Commission, in what could be a blow to pro-democracy forces fighting to overcome authoritarian military rule.

With 94% of the votes counted Sunday night, the pro-military Palang Pracharat Party inched ahead with 7.69 million votes, while the main opposition Pheu Thai Party, which is aligned with ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, receiving 7.2 million votes.
Thaksin, or leaders connected to him, have previously won every election since 2001. The poor showing in Monday’s early poll results could signal a desire from the electorate to move away from the heavily polarized politics of the past.

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

error: Content is protected !!