Prime Minister Anutin Charnavirakul has claimed victory in Thailand's general election, with preliminary vote counts putting his ruling conservatives well ahead of their rivals.
Anutin said his success belonged to all Thais, no matter whether you voted for us or not, after his party's expected result defied opinion polls that had placed the reformist People's Party ahead.
With 90% of the votes counted, Anutin's Bhumjaithai party is projected to win 194 seats in Bangkok's 500-seat parliament, with the People's Party in second place on 116.
People's Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut appeared to concede the election, stating he was ready to serve in opposition if Anutin could form a government.
This election was called after the coalition led by Anutin collapsed after just three months. While no party is projected to gain an overall majority, Anutin is now almost certain to stay in office, with his Bhumjaithai likely to have more than double the number of seats it won in the last election in 2023.
Elections in Thailand are often unpredictable, and this time was no exception. This surprise result is a significant disappointment for the People's Party, which had anticipated an improved performance over its previous success. The anticipated orange wave of support for its young, idealistic candidates did not materialize.
The reformists will remain in opposition for now, and the feared crisis that could have arisen had they won and once again been barred from office has been averted.
The state of the economy weighed heavily on voters' minds, as household debt reaches record levels and growth stagnates. The People's Party aimed for significant reforms, appealing mainly to younger voters yet struggling to gain traction among older demographics.
Alongside the election, Thais also voted in a referendum regarding potential reforms to the constitution, with around 65% supporting changes as of preliminary counts.
