Thai Reformist Warns Establishment May Again Thwart Popular Vote

The popular choice in Thailand’s general election on Sunday could again be thwarted as the establishment that opposes reforms could still influence the final outcome, according to Pita Limjaroenrat, the prime ministerial candidate sidelined after the 2023 vote.

The People’s Party, which has topped opinion polls for the past two years, is the latest incarnation of the reformist movement repeatedly dismantled by entrenched interests. It’s the successor of Pita’s Move Forward Party, which a court dissolved in 2024 over its campaign to amend laws against criticism of the monarchy, a taboo issue among powerful conservatives.