BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party won a clear victory in Sunday’s general election, raising the prospect that a more stable coalition may now succeed in bringing an end to a period of prolonged political instability.
Anutin set the stage for the snap election in mid-December during a border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, a move political analysts said appeared to be timed by the conservative leader to cash in on surging nationalism.
It is a gamble that paid off for a prime minister, who — having taken over after premier Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the populist Pheu Thai party was ousted over the Cambodian crisis — then dissolved parliament less than 100 days later.
“Bhumjaithai’s victory today is a victory for all Thais, whether you voted for Bhumjaithai Party or not,” Anutin told a press briefing. “We have to do the utmost to serve the Thai people to our full ability.”
With nearly 95 percent of polling stations reporting, preliminary results released by the election commission showed the Bhumjaithai Party winning about 192 seats, compared to 117 for the progressive People’s Party, and 74 for the once-dominant Pheu Thai party.
