Voters in Thailand have signalled their rejection of about 10 years of military-aligned rule as election results on Monday showed backing for two pro-democracy opposition parties.
Thais went to the polls in large numbers on Sunday, with the highest number of votes secured by the Move Forward Party, led by charismatic Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, who wants to reform Thailand's strict royal insult laws.
The progressive party had an almost clean sweep of the capital, Bangkok, followed closely by the populist Pheu Thai party, which had been the dominant force in every Thai election this century.
The election positioned a young generation seeking change against the conservative elite led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.
“I feel like my country has [hope] for the future,” Beam, 29, a personal assistant in Bangkok who voted for the MFP and took part in the 2020 protests, told AFP on Monday.
“People have really opened their eyes.”
But in a kingdom where coups and court orders have often trumped the ballot box, she said she feared the result may yet be thwarted.
With ballots counted from 99 per cent of polling stations, Election Commission data showed MFP with 14 million ballots in the popular vote, followed by Pheu Thai with 10.6 million.
The United Thai Nation party, led by Mr Prayuth — the former army chief who seized power in a 2014 coup — was a distant third with 4.6 million.
While not declaring victory, Mr Limjaroenrat said late on Sunday that a coalition deal was “definitely on the cards”.
But in a sign of the potential flashpoints ahead, he repeated a promise to reform the lese majeste law that invokes harsh prison terms for insulting the monarchy.
This was an issue once deemed untouchable in Thai politics, and which rival opposition party Pheu Thai shied from during the campaign.
“No matter what, we will push for royal lese majeste law reform,” Mr Limjaroenrat said on Sunday.
Pheu Thai
Pheu Thai, which has been the most popular party for two decades, had been hoping for a landslide win that would allow it to lead a coalition.
Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of party patriarch and exiled billionaire Thaksin, congratulated the MFP and signalled a willingness to co-operate in a potential future government.
“We can work together,” she said.
Despite their success, the MFP and Pheu Thai still face many hurdles to secure power due to a junta-written 2017 constitution.
The new prime minister will be chosen jointly by the 500 elected MPs in the lower house, plus 250 senate members appointed by Mr Prayuth's junta.
This stacks the deck in the army's favour.
Adding to the uncertainty, rumours are already swirling that the MFP could be dissolved by court order — the same fate that befell its predecessor, the Future Forward Party, after it performed unexpectedly well at the 2019 elections.
The Election Commission is not expected to officially confirm the final number of seats won by each party for several weeks.
However, early on Monday, it forecast that the MFP and Pheu Thai would each win 112 out of a total of 400 constituency seats.
The MFP would then stand to secure a greater number of the remaining 100 seats to be allocated to parties on a proportional basis.
This election was the first since the 2020 protest that demanded curbs on the power and spending of Thailand's king.
The demonstrations petered out as Covid-19 curbs were imposed and dozens of leaders were arrested, but their energy stoked growing support for the more radical opposition MFP.
“Younger generations these days care about their rights and they will come out to vote,” Mr Limjaroenrat told reporters as he arrived to vote on Sunday.
MFP sought millennial and Gen Z voters, who make up about half the 52 million-strong electorate, but early results indicated their inroads across all demographics.
The party swept Bangkok, capturing every district but one.
It is predicted to also take districts in the staunchly Pheu Thai northern territories — even flipping Thaksin Shinawatra's home district near northern city Chiang Mai.
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Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
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UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
