New Political Party Pops Up as Thailand Prepares for Upcoming Elections
In a strategic move aimed at snagging more seats, relatives and close allies of former Thai prime ministers Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck have launched the Thai Raksa Chart Party on Wednesday. The party’s birth comes just a few months before the general elections slated for early next year.
Timing and Context
- The military junta, which is pushing to hold the elections between February and May, has pushed back the date several times.
- The upcoming contest will pit the military‑favored and royalist factions against the populist forces run by the Puea Thai Party—an outfit that was ousted during the 2014 coup.
Who’s In?
- Wife, sibling, nephew, and niece of the Shinawatra clan are on the roster.
- Core aides and a fresh wave of young supporters tie the new party back to the family’s political legacy.
- Office-bearer Preechapol Pongpanich, a former Puea Thai MP, is leading the charge.
Yuttaporn Issarachai, a political scientist, described the move as a “political strategy under the new electoral rules to win more seats.” He also hinted that the new party could act as a safety net if Puea Thai blows the whistle on a possible dissolution.
Why the Military’s New Constitution Matters
The junta’s updated constitution is built to keep big parties from dominating elections. For states where the Shinawatras had historically ruled the roost, the concentration of seats is being cut, effectively sandbagging their chances. But hey—rural voters still have a massive love for the clan’s hustle.
Background on the Shinawatra Saga
- Thaksin escaped a 2006 coup, living in exile to dodge a conviction he says was politically motivated.
- Ready for a new spin, he’s also facing separate corruption charges from 2008 and 2012.
- Yingluck left Thailand in August last year—just before a court handed her a five‑year jail sentence in absentia for criminal negligence.
- Despite legal woes, parties linked to the Shinawatras have won every election in the past decade.
At the end of the day, the competition is heating up. The military, royals, and a revitalized Shinawatra contingent are all in a race where strategy, legacy, and a dash of romance — well, political romance — could define the next chapter of Thailand’s political playbook.
