Thai Progressive Party Set Back as Young Voters Lose Faith | WPN World People News

Preliminary results of Thailand’s general election are in, showing that the progressive People’s Party—long the frontrunner in pre-election polls—won only 118 seats, far behind the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, which secured 193 seats. Bhumjaithai leader and incumbent prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul declared victory on the 8th, while the People’s Party conceded it would be unable to form a government. The outcome has surprised observers and left many young voters who had hoped for reform deeply disappointed.

As the successor to the Move Forward Party, the People’s Party carried forward a reformist and progressive agenda and enjoyed strong backing among younger voters. Opinion polls ahead of the election consistently showed the party in the lead, bolstering supporters’ confidence. The final results, however, delivered a decisive win for conservative forces. Many young people took to social media to express frustration and sadness, with some even saying they wanted to leave Thailand. Jednipit Jay Wongjedjan, 34, wrote on Facebook: “Since I turned 18, I haven’t seen any real change. How much longer do I have to wait?”

Pratsakun Cheepcheawcharnchai, president of the political science student association at Chulalongkorn University, said pre-election student surveys showed more than 60 percent of students were hopeful about the vote, making the outcome particularly shocking and disheartening. According to Thai PBS, as of 5 p.m. local time on February 8, Bhumjaithai had won 193 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives, followed by the People’s Party with 118 seats and the Pheu Thai Party with 74. Official results are expected to be announced by April 9 at the latest.