As Thais head to polls, can the reformist People’s Party break the cycle?

Al JazeeraCenterEN 6 min read 100% complete by Vijitra DuangdeeFebruary 7, 2026 at 12:23 AM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

Ahead of Thailand's general election on February 8, 2026, the reformist People's Party, also known as the Orange party, is campaigning on promises of change. The party, a continuation of a progressive movement, leads in the polls but faces an uphill battle against the country's royalist conservative establishment, which has a history of overturning electoral mandates. The People's Party's predecessor won the 2023 election but was blocked from power and later dissolved. Despite this history, the party hopes that a strong showing at the polls will force the establishment into a compromise. The election is taking place in a nation of about 71 million people that has been trapped in a cycle of overturned mandates for over a quarter-century.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Senate 40% Constitutional Court 40% Thankrit Duangmaneeporn 50% Bangkok 60% Future Forward Party 60% Move Forward Party 60% Pita Limjaroenrat 70% Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit 70% Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut 70% People's Party ×690% Thailand ×5100%

Keywords

people's party 90% thailand election 90% overturned mandates 70% reformist 70% conservative establishment 70% political reform 60% democratic future 50% political opposition 50% general election 40%