Junta Chief Prayut Likely to Retain PM’s Seat

Junta chief, General Prayut Chan-o-Cha is set to return as Thailand's prime minister as the opposition cries foul. Former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra claims the Sunday's elections were rigged. Thaksin said the military regime 'clearly is afraid' and Palang Pracharath, its proxy party would lead a 'very unstable government' if it doesn't have a majority in the lower house of the parliament.

"Whether or not the junta's leaders now allow the pro-democracy parties to form a government, they will find a way to stay in charge. They have no shame, and they want to be in power no matter what," said Thaksin. According to the Election Commission Pheu Thai led with 137 of 350 constituency seats in an initial tally, followed by Palang Pracharath party with 97 seats. It showed that both major parties would need to form a coalition to take power in the 500-member lower house.

Sudarat Keyuraphan, Pheu Thai's prime ministerial candidate said they will try to form the government coalition right away because that's how people voted. He said the army-appointed Senate should follow the wishes of the voters. Meanwhile, the military-backed Palang Pracharath seeks to form a government. The Election Commission said it won 7.7 million votes with 94 per cent counted and Pheu Thai is second at 7.23 million votes. Amidst speculations, the Election Commission said the initial vote counts were accurate, despite its computers being attacked. However, critics have pointed to vote counting irregularities, including 2 million votes that were disqualified as 'bad ballots'.

The 2019 polls is the first since the military took power in a coup in 2014.