Thai PM Anutin Declares Electoral Victory Amid Conservative Surge

Tue Feb 10 2026 01:13:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a surprising turn of events, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnavirakul has claimed victory in the recent elections, with his conservative party significantly leading over rivals, countering expectations set by earlier opinion polls.

Anutin's ruling Bhumjaithai party is projected to secure 194 of the 500 parliamentary seats in Thailand's recent elections, a major improvement over their previous standings. Despite being favored by earlier polls, the reformist People's Party fell to second place with 116 seats. Anutin attributed his win to all Thai citizens, emphasizing unity amidst the election's surprises, as the results show an unexpected shift in voter sentiment towards the Bhumjaithai's pragmatic approach.

In a significant political shift, Prime Minister Anutin Charnavirakul has declared victory in Thailand's general election, leading his conservative faction well ahead of opposition parties.

With preliminary vote counts indicating the Bhumjaithai party's dominance, Anutin expressed his victory as a collective achievement, stating, This success belongs to all Thais, no matter whether you voted for us or not. This announcement follows a series of shocking electoral results that defied pre-election polling, which had suggested the reformist People's Party would take the lead.

As 90% of votes were counted, it became apparent that Anutin's party is set to secure approximately 194 seats in the 500-seat parliament, while the rival People's Party is expected to gain only 116 seats. The leader of the People's Party, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, appeared to concede defeat, mentioning readiness to serve in opposition.

The elections were necessitated by the collapse of Anutin's previous coalition after just three months, triggering widespread anticipations of an unpredictable outcome. Notably, despite no single party winning an outright majority, Anutin's Bhumjaithai is expected to significantly increase its representation compared to the last election in 2023.

The general sentiment during this election focused on economic stability, with issues such as household debt levels and declining growth dominating voters' considerations. Many were seeking assurances that the government would enhance economic conditions without losing investment to neighboring markets like Vietnam.

In a separate element of the electoral process, voters also participated in a referendum regarding the reform of the 2017 constitution, scrutinized for its provisions favoring unelected institutions, including the senate. Preliminary counts indicated a majority support for these reforms, signaling potential changes to Thailand's political framework.

As the political landscape evolves, substantial community reactions to the election results suggest a profound reconsideration among voters regarding the leadership dynamics in Thailand, illustrating a resilience for pragmatic conservatism amidst a backdrop of earlier expectations for reformist innovation.