Thread by @patpichatan

Thailand is holding an election that could tilt the balance of power, which for almost 9 years has been held by the military establishment. More than 52 million voters will cast ballots based essentially on if they want change, and how much. THREAD 🧵 #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23

So how does it work? Thais will directly elect lower house members via the first-past-the-post contest and proportional representation. The new MPs will vote with the *unelected* Senate to pick the PM. Check this #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23 explainer:
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

This election is a heated battle between the conservative establishment led by coup maker-turned-PM Prayuth Chan-Ocha and the opposition parties looking to unseat him. I give you the lowdown of Prayuth and his key challengers. #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

In short: then-army chief Prayuth toppled a Pheu Thai-led government in 2014 and has stayed in power ever since. Pheu Thai's Paetongtarn Shinawatra is now his main rival.
My @Quicktake video explainer on who's who in #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23:

https://twitter.com/Quicktake/status/1648625756488990721

Paetongtarn hails from the Shinawatra dynasty, whose two Thai PMs had bitter political ends. Her #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23 PM bid is to end the cycle of coups against her family. My in-depth profile of @ingshin, charting her rise and Pheu Thai's odds: bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Paetongtarn has played a key role in rallying support for Pheu Thai in this #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23, re-igniting the Shinawatra clan frenzy among supporters who see former PMs Thaksin and Yingluck in her. I explain how she brings the drama to the race:

https://twitter.com/Quicktake/status/1656905561089122306

When I interviewed Paetongtarn on one of her early campaign trails in Jan., she told me she was "100% confident" of Pheu Thai's "landslide" victory in #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23. But that was before the late surge of the progressive Move Forward Party.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Move Forward is hugely popular among young Thais who want to see hope and change in Thai politics. It inherits the ideology of Future Forward, which was disbanded after the last election. I interviewed party leader @Pita_MFP #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23:
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Now, Pheu Thai says it's open to forming a coalition with "like-minded" parties post-#เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23. Two of its PM candidates, Paetongtarn and Srettha Thavisin, have ruled out working with the former coup makers. My interview with @Thavisin: bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Given Thailand's history with coups, the question always looms over Thai elections. This time, the army chief says no. #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

The election battle may be fought on ideological lines, but the discourse is also dominated by talks of the economy that posted the slowest growth in Southeast Asia last year.

The most flashy proposal in #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23 is by Pheu Thai.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Key political parties are promising similar packages of steep increases in cash handouts and minimum wages and debt repayment suspension. The one-upmanship game is strong.

@kuttybloomberg and I delve into these #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23 pledges:
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Many vote-winning promises are catered to farmers, who make up Thailand's single-largest group of voters. Farming heartlands in the north and northeast have become key battlegrounds for #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23. By @kuttybloomberg and @Ton_Asean:
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

But the implementation of those pledges could strain government funds and pose risks to the already-struggling economy in the long run. @yingyuvej explains what the freebies might do to the Thai economy post-#เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23:
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Also at high stake in #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23 is Thailand's green rush. Barely a year into cannabis decriminalization, a backlash is gaining steam as most parties pledge to undo the landmark policy. I spoke to growers on what they stand to lose: bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

After polling stations close, preliminary results will start coming in from 6:30 pm local time until late. But it can take up to 2 months before official results are released to confirm the makeup of the new lower house. I explained how we'll get a new PM:

https://twitter.com/BloombergTV/status/1656899910388572161

Thailand has come a long way since the last election. The lese majeste law, which punishes criticism of the monarchy, has entered the mainstream election dialogue for the first time. Undercurrents of change are well underway. #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23
bloomberg.com/news/features/…

And that's just the recap. Thank you for sticking with me.

My colleagues and I will be covering the election all day until preliminary results are available tonight. We've made our #เลือกตั้ง66 #ThaiElection23 live blog free to read. No paywall. Join us!
bloomberg.com/news/live-blog…

Nearly 4 hours after polls closed, only 16% of ballots have been counted and reported by the Election Commission, showing opposition parties Pheu Thai and Move Forward dominating the #ThaiElection23 race. We'll keep updating our main #เลือกตั้ง66 story:
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…