BANGKOK
Thousands of young orange-clad supporters cheered the rallies of Thailand’s most popular political party ahead of elections this weekend, but few expect it to take power. While the People’s Party is far ahead in the polls, promising to tackle corruption and reform Thailand’s strict royal insult laws, even some of the party’s lawmakers have their doubts.
“They will not let us become the government or come into power easily,” 31-year-old firebrand Rukchanok Srinork told medi. “It is not a surprise that they will do everything to block us.” Dubbed “Ice Storm” by Thai media, Rukchanok is an inspirational figure for many young Thai voters who want to see change.
The People’s Party is the latest incarnation of the organisation that won the last election, in 2023, pledging to relax lese-majeste laws, push back military influence and break up powerful business monopolies. It struck a coalition deal with second-placed Pheu Thai — the grouping of ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now in prison — only for military-appointed senators to reject its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, as prime minister.
The constitutional court later banned Pita from politics for 10 years for campaigning to change the lese-majeste legislation, known as Section 112, and dissolved the party. Refounded and renamed, the People’s Party was around 11 percent ahead of its nearest rival, the ruling Bhumjaithai, in the last survey by respected pollster NIDA before a pre-election cut-off. Half of 18- to 35-year-olds support the party, it found.
The party has half a million TikTok followers, its bright and playful daily content far outpacing Bhumjaithai’s 38,000. “I feel bored with the old style of politics,” said Napat Sinakasa, a 23-year-old software developer and second-time voter. “I wish new politicians who’ve never had the chance to run the country have the chance to.”
But elite and conservative forces retain their grip on the Thai establishment, and most analysts doubt the People’s Party will manage to form a government, even if it emerges with the most seats. The party’s victory in May 2023 — when it was known as Move Forward — came on a record turnout of 75 percent.
Its dissolution sparked months of youth-led demonstrations in Bangkok, with protesters hurling unprecedented public criticisms of the monarchy and demanding transparency and reform. Protest leaders were later convicted under Section 112.Analysts expect incumbent Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai to come second this time and form a coalition with probable third-placed Pheu Thai.
Many young voters say that would dishearten them.”I would probably be angry… not angry at the party, but angry at the rules or the people who caused it — those who might have made secret deals behind the scenes,” said Patcharee Phadungsuksira, 26. “I do feel a bit discouraged sometimes, but I still believe that one day it will be our turn,” she added.
