On Sunday, parliamentary elections have been underway in Thailand, because the nation’s 52 million eligible voters stood on the precipice of probably dethroning the present Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former coup basic.
Polls had put the opposition within the lead for months, particularly the Pheu Thai occasion of Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The 36-year-old businesswoman, who turned a mom for the second time a fortnight in the past, is the daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The progressive Move Forward Party led by Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, not too long ago additionally made substantial positive aspects, particularly amongst youthful voters.
However, 69-year-old Prayut might stay in energy due to a constitutional modification launched after the 2014 army coup. This stipulates that, together with the five hundred newly elected lawmakers, 250 unelected senators may also determine who turns into prime minister.
These have been appointed by the army in 2018 and are thought of loyal to Prayut. If he loses, he’ll retire from politics, Prayut declared a couple of days earlier than the election.
For weeks, there was hypothesis about doable coalitions permitting the opposition to get a majority of 376 votes even with out the senators.
According to observers, Thailand might face protests once more if the election of the pinnacle of presidency doesn’t mirror the folks’s will. The day’s voting would determine whether or not the South-East Asian nation “will undergo radical change or maintain the status quo,” the Bangkok Post newspaper wrote on Sunday.
Fears of a doable new army coup within the wake of the polls have been allayed by Army Chief Narongpan Jittkaewtae.
He mentioned there wouldn’t be one other army coup underneath his management; folks ought to take away the time period from their vocabulary. The kingdom has seen greater than a dozen coups because the Nineteen Thirties.
Observers anticipated a excessive turnout. Polling stations have been resulting from shut at 5 p.m. (10 a.m. GMT), and unofficial outcomes might be referred to as early as late night. However, it might take days earlier than an official impact is obtainable.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
