Thailand holds general elections on May 14

After Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn dissolved the parliament yesterday, the date of the general elections, which were temporarily planned to be held on May 7, was updated to May 14, 2023, with the statement made by the Thailand Election Committee.

In Thailand, where voting is compulsory, more than 52 million voters are expected to go to the polls in the upcoming elections.

General Prayut Chan-o-cha, 68, the junta leader who first came to power in a military coup in 2014 and has served as prime minister ever since, is preparing to participate in the upcoming elections with his new member, the United Thai People’s Party.

Paetongtarn Shinawatr, 36, the leader of the opposition Pheu Thai Party, who is Prime Minister Prayut’s main rival in the elections and is also the daughter of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ranks first in the surveys conducted in the country.

In addition, Prime Minister Prayut’s colleague from the current government cabinet and Thai Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that he had decided to participate in the elections with another party.

The general elections, which will be held for the second time after the 2014 military coup in Thailand, are expected to be tense due to the economic and political instability experienced in the country in recent years.