Thai Royalists Finally Back a Winner in Vote for Stability

Since the turn of the century, election night has usually been great for pro-democracy reformers and miserable for Thailand’s royalists. Now the establishment has finally backed a winner, and the country may see some stability as a result.

Early results from Sunday’s vote show the ruling Bhumjaithai party is on track to secure 191 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives — nearly triple the last election in 2023. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s party used its incumbency advantage and a campaign defined by rising nationalism following a tense border conflict with Cambodia to surprise election pundits.