Thailand is preparing to hold parliamentary elections on May 14, which could be a turning point in the history of the country's democracy. The people of Bangkok express their desire for change and hope for free and fair elections.
In 2019, Thailand's elections were described as "electoral authoritarianism" by political analysts. The militarists who staged the coup d'état in 2014 created their own electoral system, and as a result, power passed into the hands of the former army chief, General Prayut Chan-ocha, who remains prime minister to this day. As a result of the last elections, Thailand could not be classified as a fully democratic regime.
Despite this, experts believe that there is an opportunity to strengthen democracy in Thailand in the upcoming elections, especially given the country's transition from a two-party system to a more diverse and complex multi-party system.
The largest party in Thailand is the Phu Thai Party. However, experts note that shifts in the political landscape may prevent her from winning this election by a wide margin. Difficulties are also presented by the constitution established as a result of a coup d'état. The Senate, which gained the power to appoint the prime minister, remains in power, but its legitimacy is being questioned.
If free and fair elections fail, Thailand risks a new political crisis that could lead to a coup d'état. In this case, it will be difficult to predict the future of the coalition government.
