Army-ruled Thailand set for general elections Sunday

By Omer Faruk Yildiz

BANGKOK, Thailand (AA) - Buddhist-majority military-ruled Thailand is set for long-awaited general elections on Sunday, when the Thai people will elect a civilian government for the first time since 2014, when the Royal Thai army toppled the then elected rulers in a coup.

A total of 81 parties and 68 prime ministerial candidates will compete in the March 24 elections.

Three main political fronts will compete in the race: supporters, opponents of the military government, and nonaligned parties.

- New constitution, injustices in electoral system

The new constitution that came into force in 2017 has made some changes to the electoral system.

These changes have led to claims tomorrow's elections will be held in an unfair and undemocratic environment.

It is believed that the support of senators appointed by the junta will ensure the presidency of the Thai Army-installed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former army general.

Incumbent Thai army chief Apirat Kongsompong has expressed his support for Prayut.

A party must secure a majority in both houses of the parliament to form a government.

Some 350 members will be directly elected in the lower house, while the remaining 150 will be seated according to each party's popularity in the polls.

The 250-seat upper house will be appointed entirely by the armed forces.

According to Muhammed İlyas Yahprang of Thailand's Ramkhamhaeng University, the elections are a way for the junta administration to legitimize itself.

“The constitution was designed to ensure that Gen. Prayut becomes the prime minister, no matter who is the majority in the elections,” Yahprang said.

- Symbol of Thailand's return to democracy

He underlined that, despite the injustices in the electoral system, Thailand's return to democracy is a positive development.

The country's economy and peace talks in southern Thailand will improve after the elections, he said.

The decision to hold polls -- announced on Jan. 23 by the Thai Election Commission -- came after a royal decree was issued by the country’s monarch, according to local daily The Nation.

Chief Election Commissioner Ittiporn Boonpracong said the date would allow all necessary “activities” to be carried out “in time,” without setting a timetable for the declaration of results.

The decision came five days ahead of the official deadline, after months of pro-election demonstrations.

Elections in the southeast Asian country had been delayed four times since 2014, when the army overthrew the civilian government.

Thailand witnessed its last general election in 2014 when former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved the parliament on Dec. 9, 2013, following massive anti-government protests.

Shinawatra was re-elected but subsequently overthrown by the Thai army in 2014.