Devendra Kumar
Candidates of Thailand’s political parties journeyed through Bangkok on Saturday, driving on open-top cars and trucks in the final days of their campaign, as the country inches towards a general election that could bring about a major shift in its political terrain. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is facing a tough battle to retain his seat, with rival opposition parties Pheu Thai and Move Forward gaining momentum according to opinion polls.
The coming election is significant as it could see the end of nearly a decade of governments led or backed by the military and conservative forces. Thailand has approximately 52 million eligible voters, including 3.3 million first-time voters aged 18 to 22, who could be instrumental in determining the outcome of the election. These young voters are being wooed by both pro-military, royalist conservatives and the populist opposition, each vying for their allegiance.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a prime ministerial candidate for Pheu Thai, waved to onlookers from the back of a bright red car, accompanied by her running mate Srettha Thavisin. She urged first-time voters to choose Pheu Thai, highlighting the party’s 20-year history of success and its connection to the billionaire Shinawatra family, whose parties have won elections since 2001 on populist platforms.
On the other hand, Move Forward, a youth-driven and progressive party, is experiencing a late surge in popularity. Its prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, implored supporters to “sleep early tonight and wake up early to vote for Move Forward” as he drove through the city in an open-top truck.
Meanwhile, Prayuth’s United Thai Nation party stopped periodically to allow supporters to take selfies and give bouquets as they drove through the city. In a rally on Friday, Prayuth urged voters to back him instead of the opposition, warning of the dangers of sudden change. “We do not want change that will overturn the country,” he said. “Do you know what kind of damage it would do? We cannot suddenly change all at once because we don’t know what lies on the side.”
Under election rules, parties must stop campaigning at 6pm on Saturday, with the election taking place on Sunday. As the campaign draws to a close, the outcome remains uncertain, with all eyes on the young voters who could hold the key to determining the outcome of the election.