STORY: The landslide victory of two progressive political parties in Thailand’s election on Sunday may signal the end of years of control by factions backed by the military establishment, going back to the the country’s coup in 2014.
And it also highlights the number of people openly questioning the role of the monarchy there, particularly among younger generations, a subject that was once considered taboo.
The biggest victor, the Move Forward party, and its ally the Pheu Thai party, have now agreed to form a coalition.
But their wins don’t necessarily mean that they can take power, or that Move Forward’s leader Pita Limjaroenrat, can become prime minister.
Because the military and its allies still have options.
“It will be quite a hefty price to pay if someone is thinking about debunking the election result or forming a minority government.”
Thitanan Pongsudhirak is a political science…
