Thais have dealt a crushing defeat to the generals who have been in power for nearly 10 years, voting in large numbers for the progressive Forward Movement party, a parliamentary election surprise that is now seeking a coalition with other opposition movements, AFP reported.

Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the new political wave in ThailandPhoto: Jack Taylor / AFP / Profimedia Images

Associated with the color orange, Move Forward is poised to become a major political force in the kingdom after mass demonstrations in 2020, whose pro-democracy demands it captured.

But his positions, which are considered radical, from changing the controversial article on the crime of knife-wielding to abandoning mandatory conscription, risk creating friction with the military-realist elite, which retains its influence in the institutions.

The younger generation’s rejection of the current government in the wake of a 2014 coup led to a record 75.22 percent voter turnout in the election, slightly higher than in 2019, the election commission confirmed on Monday.

The smiling face of the young leader of the Move Forward movement, Peet Limjaroenrath, 42, made headlines on Monday, contrasting with the downcast face of outgoing Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha.

According to the election commission’s inconclusive results, Forward Movement won more than 14 million votes, ahead of the other opposition force Pheu Thai (10.8 million). In third place, Prayuth’s United Thai Nation (UTN) party was a distant third with 4.6 million votes.

According to the latest estimates, Move Forward and Pheu Thai compare the number of MPs (112 MPs each) in 400 constituencies.

The last 100 seats are distributed according to a proportional system, which should give an advantage to “orange”.

But complicated electoral rules imposed by the military in their favor force opposition parties to gain a large majority or form a coalition to gain power.

On Sunday evening, Pita Limjaroenrath assured that a government deal with Pheu Thai was “on the table”.

Both sides share the view that Thailand’s economy is in crisis and need reform, but differ on several social issues, such as the lezmajesty punishment article, which Pheu Thai is much more cautious about.