The opposition party urging a drastic change in the nation's institutions has received an astonishing victory from Thai voters.
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According to preliminary results, Move Forward has surpassed all expectations to win 151 of the lower house's 500 seats.
The party, Pheu Thai, led by the daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is currently 10 seats in front.
This is being referred to by analysts as a political earthquake that signifies a dramatic change in public opinion.
Additionally, it is a blatant rejection of the two military-aligned parties that comprise the present administration and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who overthrew an elected government in 2014 through a coup. The number of seats gained by the ruling coalition was merely 15%.
Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, the head of Move Forward, told the BBC, "We didn't leave any stone unturned." In the past ten years, people have had enough. It's a new day now.
In order to provide Move Forward and four other minor opposition parties a coalition with more than 60% of the seats in the next parliament, Pheu Thai, the second-largest party, has announced that it has decided to join them.
However, that still isn't enough to allow them to join the parliament's vote for the new administration and defeat the 250-member, Mr. Prayuth-appointed, unelected senate. They will probably object to Move Forward's progressive platform, especially its promise to change the divisive lese majeste legislation.
Many Thais worry that the military and others who support it may try to prevent the winning parties from gaining government during the next political discussions. A military takeover is doubtful, but it is possible that Move Forward may be disqualified by a court on another technicality, much like its predecessor Future Forward was in 2020.
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The second question is how successfully Move Forward and Pheu Thai can cooperate given that their previous parliamentary relationships were occasionally tense. Mr. Pita, a talented legislator, and Harvard graduate, has yet to be challenged in the more cutthroat art of putting together and maintaining a coalition.
The reality that Thailand's people awoke this morning to a new political environment, despite the uncertainties, remains.
According to Prajak Kongkirati, a political scientist at Thammasat University, "the majority of votes reflect the need to escape from the 'Prayuth regime' and the yearning for change." It demonstrates that more people than expected support the Move Forward movement's call for change.
Move Forward supporters in Thailand have taken to social media to celebrate their party's triumph, calling themselves "organic canvassers" and referring to it as the "wind of change" and the "dawn of a new era."
Pita said on Twitter that he was "ready" to take office as the nation's 30th prime minister. "We have the same aspirations. Together, we think that improvements to our beloved Thailand are feasible if we start making changes right away, he added.
In a tweet, it was said that "democracy cannot be taken for granted" and that "this election really tells you that only four years have passed, but the people's thinking has changed a lot, both the establishment and the pro-democracy camps."
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It is no surprise that these were the same problems that triggered a student-led protest movement that lasted several months in 2020. Candidates for Move Forward included several movement leaders. Young and enthusiastic voters, many of whom were Move Forward supporters, also played a significant influence on the outcome of the election, similar to the 2020 demonstrations.
In the weeks running up to the election, the sentiment in favor of the new party was difficult to ignore. On Thai social media, a fresh wave of memes with people making large strides or jumps was widely circulated.
And it was seen in person on Sunday as individuals made oversized, exaggerated gestures to demonstrate their support. Election laws forbid voters from openly declaring their choices, therefore it was the only method to show which way they were leaning. Others campaigned in the party's official color of orange while sporting bright orange shirts, flip-flops, and shoes.
The candidates for Move Forward had fewer resources than their opponents and were forced to depend on social media and occasionally antiquated equipment like bicycles to spread their message. They had a clearer vision than other parties, which was helpful.
While its reformist competitor Pheu Thai was initially elusive, Move Forward outlawed any partnership with parties connected to the 2014 military coup. The party had a reputation for taking moral stands during the previous parliament and was also young and daring.
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| Image Source - Google | Image by <br><a href= BBC News |
It also benefited from what seems to be a universal desire for change among the general people. In an aging Thailand, voters under 26 make up just 14% of the 52 million voters, yet they worked hard to convince older voters to support Move Forward in order to provide their generation a brighter future.
The most pressing concern is whether the two reformist parties can form a government despite the change mandate.
On Monday, Mr. Pita spoke to the media with optimism. For now, it would be rather a far-fetched idea to consider overturning the election results or creating a minority administration given the unanimity that emerged from the vote, he added.
And I believe the Thai people will prevent it from happening.
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