Thai Pro-Democracy Groups Dominate Vote in Rebuke of Military

Move Forward party outperforms expectations, sweeps Bangkok
Even House majority doesn’t guarantee easy path to power

WATCH: Thailand’s pro-democracy opposition parties have the momentum to dislodge a coalition of conservative parties headed by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, according to Pita Limjaroenrat, whose liberal Move Forward party has seen a late surge in support ahead of Sunday’s vote, Source: Bloomberg

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By Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Suttinee (Ying) Yuvejwattana, and Philip Heijmans

May 14, 2023 at 10:16 AM UTC

Updated on

May 15, 2023 at 1:40 AM UTC

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Thailand’s pro-democracy parties notched a resounding victory in Sunday’s parliamentary vote, setting up the biggest challenge to the royalist-backed establishment since the military seized power in a coup nearly a decade ago.

With 99% of the vote counted, the Move Forward party — an advocate of changing a law that restricts criticism of Thailand’s powerful monarchy — led both in total seats and popular votes. Together with Pheu Thai, which is linked to exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the pro-democracy parties were projected to rack up 287 of the 500 seats in the lower house.