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Two parties challenging military rule were holding a substantial lead as Thais went to the polls in the most wide-open general election in a decade.
Liberal former tech expert Pita Limjaroenrat, 32, appeared to win the most seats in Sunday’s nationwide elections and is trying to form a coalition to become prime minister, possibly signaling the end of nearly a decade of military dominance of this longtime U.S. ally’s political system.
Mr. Pita’s Move Forward party could share power with a scion of Thailand’s two convicted coup-toppled leaders, so together they can oust the military-dominated government and longtime Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former army chief who took power in a 2014 coup.
With 97% of the vote counted, according to the Election Commission of Thailand, Mr. Pita’s Move Forward party was projected to claim 151 seats in the 500-seat House of Representatives, and the Pheu Thai party of Paetongtarn Shinawatra was winning another 141 seats, the Associated Press reported. The chamber still faces harsh “screening” by the military’s 250-seat appointed Senate which does not agree with the two civilians’ policies or plans.
This Buddhist-majority Southeast Asian nation is closely watched and wooed by Washington and Beijing.
Thailand’s friendly diplomatic, commercial, and military balancing act between the U.S. and China is expected to remain unchanged no matter who wins the election.
Early unofficial results indicated Mr. Pita and his liberal, youth-led MFP scored big wins, sometimes outpacing Ms. Paetongtarn’s party, which many pundits here had tapped as the front-runner.
After the polls closed, Mr. Pita said he would discuss formation of a coalition with Ms. Paetongtarn.
MFP favors “demilitarizing” Thai politics, ending military conscription, and replacing the Senate’s 250 appointees with elected politicians.
Also displaying some victories in early unofficial results is another possible prime minister and coalition partner, Anutin Charnvirakul, who leads the Bhum Jai Thai (BJT) party – famous mostly for its strong position in favor of legalizing cannabis last year.
