Thailand's conservative prime minister claimed victory in the country's general election yesterday, after television stations projected his party would be by far the largest in parliament after riding a wave of nationalism. "We are like
AFP | Bangkok
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Thailand’s conservative prime minister claimed victory in the country’s general election yesterday, after television stations projected his party would be by far the largest in parliament after riding a wave of nationalism.
“We are likely to take first place in the election,” Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters at his party headquarters in Bangkok.
“The victory today belongs to all Thais, no matter whether you voted for us or not.”
His Bhumjaithai party was forecast to win nearly 200 seats by Channel 3 on the basis of results from the parties. The progressive People’s Party trailed far behind, just above 100 seats, ahead of jailed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai party in third.
It would be a stunning turnaround for Anutin, whose party came third at the last election and who was only installed as prime minister by parliament in September, after two predecessors from Pheu Thai were ousted by the courts.
Conceding defeat, People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut told reporters in Bangkok that “we stand by our principle of respecting the party that finishes first and its right to form the government”.
Foremost on many voters’ minds was a longstanding border dispute with Cambodia that erupted into deadly fighting twice last year.
“We need a strong leader who can protect our sovereignty,” said Yuernyong Loonboot, 64, the first voter to cast his ballot at a polling station in Buriram, Anutin’s hometown.
