Thailand's Pivotal Election: Reformists Face Off Against Conservatives

Mon Feb 09 2026 00:43:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The recent elections in Thailand have marked a significant moment in the nation's political landscape, with reformists challenging conservative politics amid ongoing instability.

Thailand has voted in an early election that reflects deep divisions in the country, with reformist candidates from the People's Party vying for change against conservative forces led by incumbent Prime Minister Anutin Charnavirakul. The election comes amidst political instability, as the nation seeks to address economic concerns and historical grievances. Results are expected to show that no party will likely secure a majority.

Thailand has voted in an early election called after multiple coalition governments collapsed, giving the country three prime ministers in as many years.

Just like in 2023, this election pits those advocating far-reaching change, the People's Party, against conservative forces led by incumbent PM Anutin Charnavirakul.

When the young reformers won last time, the military-appointed senate barred them from forming a government, and the constitutional court dissolved the party. Powerful, unelected forces have repeatedly intervened to block parties challenging the status quo in Thailand.

Results will become clear around 22:00 local time (15:00 GMT), but no party is likely to win a majority.

The big question hanging over this election is how well the People's Party, which has been leading the polls, performs.

It is facing a strong challenge from Anutin, who has built his once small, provincial Bhumjaithai - Thai Pride party - into the standard-bearer for Thai conservatives.

He has played on patriotic sentiment after the two short border wars with Cambodia last year, promising to defend the status of traditional Thai institutions like the monarchy and military.

The third main contender is the Shinawatra family and its Pheu Thai – For Thais – party. In the past it dominated elections with well-marketed populist policies. It has promised to create nine new millionaires – in Thai baht – every day through a national prize draw. Both Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai have offered subsidies and cash handouts to voters.

Pheu Thai, however, is expected to lose significant support in this election after its last coalition administration was accused of mishandling the conflict with Cambodia, and its patriarch, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, was sent to jail.

Thailand's once dynamic economy has ground to a halt as political instability and the lack of structural changes worry foreign investors. Voters, meanwhile, are concerned about rising costs.

The People's Party - led by Nattaphong Ruengpanyawut - is promising big changes, from curbing the power of the biggest businesses and military to streamlining the extensive bureaucracy and modernising the education system.

But in Thailand, simply winning an election is not enough. Two previous incarnations of the People's Party were dissolved by the court, and their leaders banned from politics. They are not the only ones to have faced intervention by the constitutional court, and other unelected conservative institutions.

Despite challenges, if the People's Party exceeds the 151 seats it won in 2023, they may find it difficult to block it from forming a government. Still, more intervention by the courts or other bodies is expected to weaken or disable it as a political force.

Besides the election, Thais are also voting in a referendum on whether to reform the 2017 constitution, which many believe gives too much power to unelected forces like the senate. Many voters express a desire for change, stating they do not want things to remain the same.