After cycling through three prime ministers in less than three years, Thailand will hold a general election on Sunday that is widely expected to produce another coalition government amid persistent political fragmentation.
Polling analysis indicates no single party is likely to secure enough seats to govern alone, setting the stage for protracted multi-party negotiations to determine the country's next leadership.
Over 50 million Thai voters will elect a total of 500 members of the House of Representatives, among whom 400 will be elected from local constituencies and the remaining 100 will be allocated to political parties based on the proportion of their popular votes.
The result will decide who forms the next government and whether caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, also leader of the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, can retain power.
Thai media and analysts widely anticipate a tight three-way contest among the Bhumjaithai Party, the People's Party, and the Pheu Thai Party.
Voters are closely watching whether parties and their prime ministerial candidates can put forward pragmatic policies to improve livelihoods and address urgent economic and social challenges.
"This election primarily focuses on economic, livelihood, and security issues, with particular attention to the border situation," said a voter named Ekanong Srisamaang.
"Young Thais are calling for policies that better reflect the country's current realities, hoping the new government will effectively address pressing challenges and drive national development forward," said Rujira Laokaemkaew, another voter.
Advance voting was held last Sunday for citizens unable to cast ballots on election day, and vote counting will begin immediately after polls close.
The final official vote count results are required to be released no later than April 9. The new parliament must convene a session within 15 days to elect a speaker, after which the House of Representatives will vote to select the new prime minister.
Thailand's last general election was held in May 2023, and incumbent caretaker Prime Minister Anutin is the third prime minister since then. In September 2025, Anutin was appointed prime minister with the support of the People's Party, on the condition that he initiate a constitutional amendment process.
However, a constitutional amendment bill pushed by the People's Party failed to pass in parliament on Dec 11, 2025. The party then tabled a no-confidence motion against Anutin's government, prompting Anutin to dissolve the House of Representatives immediately.
Thailand to vote Sunday in election likely to produce coalition government
