With all the similar names and red-white-blue logos, it’s difficult to keep track of Thailand’s fractious political parties. And even those which long opposed populist handouts are now screaming similar promises to give people lots of stuff if elected May 14. Beyond the marquee promises, each party has lesser known policies and positions.
Here is a summary of who they are, what they are promising, who’s leading them, as well as where they stand on the crucial cannabis question, not to mention the public’s right to self-determination.
Pheu Thai
The 800-pound gorilla of opposition power and its court-dissolved predecessors have handily won nearly every election since its founding in 1998 as the Thai Rak Thai Party by exiled former guy Thaksin Shinawatra. Its popular innovations in everything from health care to microlending and a “creative economy” brought prosperity outside of the Bangkok power center and into the countryside. In return, the public awarded them huge electoral mandates until the military stepped in to stop the party. Coups may have claimed Thaksin and then his sister Yingluck, but Pheu Thai’s great hope today lies not in another Shinawatra but rather … just kidding, yeah it’s another Shinawatra: Thaksin’s nepo baby Paetongtarn.
Freebies: The party wants to airdrop THB10,000 (US$300) in crypto to every citizen over 16. It also wants to raise the national minimum wage – which varies from THB328 in far-flung provinces to THB354 in metro Bangkok – raised to a flat THB600, and THB25,000 per month for university graduates.
Sounds cool, bro: Wants to cap BTS Skytrain fares at THB20.
Key message: “While we no longer brag ‘Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai does,’ we are still inevitable.”
“We’re inevitable. Deal with it.”
PM candidate(s): Paetongtarn Shinawatra, real estate mogul Srettha Taweesin, and party elder Chaikasem Nitisiri.
The weed question: “Drugs are bad,” which is at least consistent with Thaksin’s state-sanctioned murder of thousands of drug suspects in the noughties.
Democracy or autocracy: While Pheu Thai has always been out for Pheu Thai, it has succeeded by actually doing stuff for people and positioning itself in a tradition of defending democratic values. The party wants to throw out the military-sponsored constitution of 2017 and write a new “People’s Constitution,” the term used to describe that of 1997, considered the most democratic of the 19 shredded since 1932.
United Thai Nation Party aka Ruam Thai Sang Chart
Created two years ago as a backup to the party Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha led to power in 2019, United Thai Nation, or UTN, sat dormant until Prayuth signed on to lead it following his messy breakup with junta pal and right-hand watchlover Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan. The “united” and “nation” are both nods to its authoritarian roots and sunny hope to project conformity by silencing dissent and promoting obedience.
Freebies: Would increase the so-called Poor Card stipends from THB200-300 to THB1,000 baht per month, at an estimated cost to taxpayers of THB700 billion over four years. UTN also wants to bump monthly elderly welfare up from to THB1,000 for the 12-million-plus people over 60, which would cost about THB480 billion. They have other policies for older voters which – totally coincidentally – make up their base.
Key message: “Keep Thailand Great, Again.”
Land reform redux: After granting himself absolute power, one of Prayuth’s first major policy moves was a nationwide crackdown on those deemed to be “squatting” or encroaching on public land. While it sounded good, it ignored hundreds of years of informal land use traditions and caused many to lose their homes and/or livelihoods. Now, UTN wants to undo that by remaking land allocation with the stated aim of resolving conflicts and disputes between government agencies and citizens. So, so sorry about all that.
PM candidate(s): Prayuth and only Prayuth, despite the fact he can only keep the job for two years.
Democracy or autocracy: It’s unlikely that Prayuth will ever be prosecuted for abrogating the constitution and overthrowing a duly elected government in 2014, regardless of his move to indemnify himself and other Super Coup Bros. for doing so.
Move Forward aka Kao Klai
The Move Forward Party, aka Future Forward Party 2, is the most “out there,” policywise. While their appeal could be written off as a Bangkok-only phenomenon, its predecessor placed a very close third in the 2019 election – after which it was immediately dissolved by the courts. Its promise of “good governance, good economy, and a promising future” resonates with those who want Thailand to take a different route, but it remains radioactive to many would-be coalition partners due to its position on the monarchy.
Freebies: Move Forward is all in on family appeal, with a cradle-to-grave approach. It has promised to give families THB3,000 for every new baby, then a THB1,200 monthly child-support stipend, followed by a THB3,000 for seniors.
Key message: “If you just can’t even with this country, then vote for us.”
Taboo, what taboo?: Move Forward is not shy about touching the third rail of Thai politics: the monarchy. It’s the only party to take up once-unthinkable calls to reform the palace, while also taming the military and rewriting school curriculum to include more than memorizing songs.
PM candidate(s): Pita Limjaroenrat, 42-year-old former businessman and Grab Thailand exec who was an MP for Future Forward.
Wherefore weed: Supports regulation for medical use.
Democracy or autocracy: Given that all of the Pro-Democracy Movement All-Stars belong to this party – some of whom are in or seeking office – it’s a pretty safe bet.
Palang Pracharath
After rewriting the rules in a new constitution, Prayuth rode this military-backed party into power after winning the most votes in the 2019 election, which was deemed “not free or fair” by observers). After Prayuth jumped ship in 2022, a longtime ally widely credited as the glue keeping their vessel afloat took the helm. Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, a famous dealmaker scarred by scandal and poor health, now wants to come out from behind the throne and become Thailand’s 30th prime minister.
Freebies: Promise to raise Poor Cards to THB700, which looked less sexy when UTN came along with THB1,000. But old people? Try senior stipends of THB3,000 to THB5,000 for those over 80.
Key message: “If you’re tired of Prayuth but don’t trust the upstarts, we are the real center.”
(Cheaper) power to the people!: Palang Pracharath, a party that fell to infighting almost as soon as its single purpose – keeping Prayuth in power – was realized, isn’t long on vision. They’ve said stuff about cutting costs on fuel, gas, and electricity.
PM candidate(s): Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, 77.
Dope or nope? Stuck between a hot-button issue and a must-have coalition partner (Bhumjaitai), the party has not taken a clear position in favor or against.
Democracy or autocracy: The only reason this party exists was to satisfy the military’s appetite for prolonged power.
Bhumjaithai
The people vote, and then Bhumjaithai decides who leads the country. For the past two decades, no party has wielded so much power as political kingmaker than this powerhouse coalition-maker from the rural outlands of Buriram province. Want to become prime minister, the party of Newin Chidchob had your back – for a price. In past years, it used its clout for modest goals like building world-class football stadiums and F1 race tracks out in the rice basket. Last year, it used it to wiggle through the backdoor decriminalization of marijuana. Now how’s that for populism?
Freebies: Legal weed wasn’t enough? Okay, how about more free kidney dialysis and cancer treatment centers (for those patients not cured by cannabis). Also, something about free solar panels and suspending consumer debt. (Smoke w33d every day!)
Key message: “A vote for me is a vote for weed.”
PM candidate(s): Anutin Charnvirakul, 56, wants people to mostly forget how he shepherded Thailand through the pandemic as public health minister and instead focus on all the dank days he unlocked by decriminalizing marijuana. Not sure potheads are the most reliable voters.
Democrat aka Prachathipat
Thailand’s oldest political party is a spent political force that squandered its promise by talking a good game but time and again revealing its loyalties to the military and traditional elites.
Freebies: Over THB500 billion in crop subsidies over four years, THB30,000 for senior clubs, and small stipends to agriculture volunteers. Having lost Bangkok to the progressives, this at best a last-ditch effort to hang onto some of its southern strongholds.
PM candidate(s): Jurin Laksanawisit, 67-year-old former education minister and forever-MP.
Toke or pass? “Say nope to dope.”
