Thailand Delays Results of First Post-Coup Poll: Election Update
Thailand is holding its first general election since a coup almost five years ago.
(Bloomberg) -- Thailand unexpectedly delayed by a day the results of Sunday’s general election, the first since a coup almost five years ago. Parties backing the military and royalist establishment are dueling for power with the populist movement of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
Key Developments:
- Election results will now be released on Monday at 10 a.m.
- A pro-military party carved out of the ruling junta was leading
- King Maha Vajiralongkorn issued a rare pre-election statement
- The army chief said the nation will be peaceful if it heeds the king
Pro-Military Party in Surprise Lead (10:05 p.m.)
On the election agency’s Facebook page, with 92 percent of votes counted, the pro-military Palang Pracharath party led with 7.5 million votes. Thaksin-linked Pheu Thai was second with 7.05 million, and the upstart Future Forward party third with just over 5 million. The latter two are critics of the military administration that seized power in 2014. The strong showing of the pro-military party will shock many onlookers who argued the junta was losing popularity.
Results of Election Delayed to Monday at 10 a.m. (10 p.m.)
The election commission in a surprise move said it would provide the results of the general election with 95 percent of votes counted on Monday morning. It had previously said the tally would be out around Sunday at 8 p.m.
Pro-Military Party Has Most Votes at 83% of Count (8:30 p.m.)
The military-allied Palang Pracharath party had the most votes, 6.37 million, with 83 percent of ballots counted, according to the Election Commission’s Facebook page. The party was carved out the ruling junta, and its apparent success will surprise many commentators. The main opposition Pheu Thai party had 6.03 million votes. The upstart Future Forward party, a fierce critic of the military government, is surging with 4.31 million votes.
Pheu Thai Seen Leading, Military Party Second (7:45 p.m.)
The Thaksin-linked Pheu Thai party -- a critic of the military government -- is projected to win 165 seats in the 500-seat lower house based on the count so far, according to the Nation TV station. But the military-allied party Palang Pracharath isn’t far behind on 129 seats. That suggests a tussle for the right to form the coalition may be brewing.
Election Commission Pushes Back Vote Briefing (7:20 p.m.)
The agency overseeing the election had earlier said it intended to announce the initial results at 95 percent of the count at about 8 p.m., but the briefing has been pushed back to 8:30 p.m., and even that may be too soon for the provisional results.
Conflicting Signals From Exit, Opinion Polls (6 p.m.)
While one exit poll puts the military-supporting Palang Pracharath in the lead at about 140 seats, other just-released surveys that took place before the election have the Thaksin-linked Pheu Thai party ahead on about 170 seats. Either way, neither party would have a big enough haul for a majority in the 500-seat lower house, signaling a coalition government. But the pro-junta party is doing better than some had expected, based on these surveys.
Polls Closed in the 2019 General Election (5 p.m.)
Counting begins with the first results expected in about an hour and final results from roughly 8 p.m. An initial exit poll from the Nation TV threw up a surprise, putting the pro-junta Palang Pracharath party in first place at 135-140 seats. It was followed by the Thaksin-linked Pheu Thai party at 120-135 seats.
Heavy Turnout Seen With Polling in Last Stages (2:30 p.m.)
The Election Commission said it expects a heavy turnout of 80 percent or more. That’s an echo of advanced voting last weekend, when the turnout reached 87 percent.
Election Commission Says Polling Going Smoothly (1 p.m.)
The agency said all 92,320 polling stations opened without major problems. It said there have been some reports of improper behavior, such as attempts to buy votes, but not many.
Army Head Says Heeding King’s Advice Brings Peace (Noon)
Commenting on a rare statement issued by the Thai monarch late Saturday, army chief Apirat Kongsompong said heeding the king’s advice can ensure peace in the country. He also said the army will take a neutral stance on the next government.
Thais Head to Polls Digesting King’s Statement (8 a.m.)
Polls opened at 8 a.m. with voters digesting a rare message from Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Late Saturday, the monarch released a statement that in effect asked citizens to back “good people” for government in the interests of national stability.
--With assistance from Margo Towie, Siraphob Thanthong-Knight, Anuchit Nguyen, Tony Jordan and Natnicha Chuwiruch.
To contact the reporter on this story: Suttinee Yuvejwattana in Bangkok at suttinee1@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sunil Jagtiani at sjagtiani@bloomberg.net, Shamim Adam
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