Thaksin Shinawatra’s governing Thai Rak Thai party won yesterday’s general election in a landslide, with 377 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives. Thaksin has become the first elected Thai prime minister to serve a full term in office, and the first PM to be reelected. Yesterday’s result makes Thai Rak Thai the first party ever to win a majority of seats in Thailand’s parliament.
This indicates a strengthening of democratic norms, as TRT has shown that a civilian administration can remain in office without military intervention. On the other hand, Thaksin has dominated Thai politics with a combination of populist policies and the intimidation of his critics. In its report on the election result, AFP wrote that Thaksin has now become “the most powerful person ever elected to lead Thailand.”
This indicates a strengthening of democratic norms, as TRT has shown that a civilian administration can remain in office without military intervention. On the other hand, Thaksin has dominated Thai politics with a combination of populist policies and the intimidation of his critics. In its report on the election result, AFP wrote that Thaksin has now become “the most powerful person ever elected to lead Thailand.”
