Thailand goes to the polls with 500 seats in Lower House being contested

WHO ARE THE FRONTRUNNERS?

According to the final poll on the election by The National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), the most popular prime ministerial candidate was Pita Limjaroenrat.

The 42-year-old is the leader and sole prime ministerial candidate of the Move Forward Party. His popularity grew quickly over the past few months. 

In NIDA’s poll published on May 3, 35.44 per cent of 2,500 respondents across Thailand supported him as Thailand’s next prime minister. 

In second place with 29.20 per cent was Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 36, from the Pheu Thai Party. She is the youngest daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted from power in a military coup in 2006. 

Her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, was also a former prime minister of Thailand. Her democratically elected government was toppled by a military coup in 2014 led by then-army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha. 

The third spot went to incumbent Prime Minister Prayut with 14.84 per cent. The 69-year-old retired general is running under the banner of a new party called the United Thai Nation, hoping to stay on in power after more than eight years in the job.

Srettha Thavisin came in fourth with 6.76 per cent. The 60-year-old is a property tycoon and another prime ministerial candidate from the Pheu Thai Party.

The fifth place was undecided. Three per cent of the respondents had not made up their minds about who should be the next prime minister.

Based on the same poll, the most popular parties  – both in terms of constituency candidates and party lists – were Pheu Thai, Move Forward, United Thai Nation, Democrat and Bhumjaithai, respectively.

WHEN THE RESULT WILL BE KNOWN?

Unofficial results of the election on Sunday should become available from 6.30pm onwards, according to the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT). 

Votes will be counted at polling stations before the unofficial results are submitted to the ECT’s database.

The public can monitor vote counting at polling stations. They can also see the unofficial results as they trickle in from across the country on various news outlets.

The ECT aims to announce the unofficial results from all the constituencies by 11pm on Sunday.