Thailand's Prime Minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul reacts after a press conference while awaiting final results in Thailand's general election in Bangkok on February 8, 2026. CHANAKARN LAOSARAKHAM / AFP
Thailand's conservative prime minister claimed victory in the country's general election on Sunday, February 8, after television stations projected his party would be by far the largest in parliament after riding a wave of nationalism. "We are likely to take first place in the election," Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters at his party headquarters in Bangkok. "The victory today belongs to all Thais, no matter whether you voted for us or not."
His Bhumjaithai party was forecast to win nearly 200 seats by Channel 3 based on the parties' results. The progressive "Orange" People's Party trailed far behind, just above 100 seats, ahead of jailed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Pheu Thai party in third. It would be a stunning turnaround for Anutin, whose party came third at the last election and who was only installed as prime minister by parliament in September, after two predecessors from Pheu Thai were ousted by the courts.
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