Thailand’s conservative prime minister won the country’s general election Sunday, riding a wave nationalism and surpassing expectations.
"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 on the basis of results from the parties. The progressive 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.
