Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Bhumjaithai Party took a commanding early lead in a snap general election, riding a surge of nationalist sentiment linked to an intensifying border conflict with Cambodia.
Preliminary results from the Election Commission showed Bhumjaithai ahead of both the progressive People’s Party and the populist Pheu Thai Party, as ballots were counted across the country.
The vote followed weeks of campaigning that framed national security and sovereignty as central issues, amid renewed clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border.
Anutin, who became caretaker premier last September, had positioned the election as a mandate on leadership during crisis.
Anutin’s campaign leaned heavily on patriotic messaging as fighting along the Cambodian border expanded in scope and intensity after a brief ceasefire.
At a rally in Bangkok last month, he told supporters, “I promise to you all that I will safeguard Thailand with my life.”
The conflict, stretching across the length of the land border, became a focal point for Bhumjaithai’s emphasis on national unity and security.
With roughly 30 percent of polling stations reporting, the party secured a clear lead, while People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut acknowledged his party did not finish first.
Bhumjaithai also promoted economic stimulus alongside security themes, appealing to both rural and urban voters.
Analysts said the approach resonated with voters amid what observers described as political fatigue following years of instability.
The election was triggered after Anutin dissolved parliament in December, less than 100 days into his term, following a dispute with the People’s Party.
“I am returning power to the people,” he wrote on social media at the time.
Anutin’s rise reflects a long political trajectory shaped by business ties and establishment backing, as well as support from conservative royalist circles.
Despite the early lead, no party is expected to win an outright majority, making coalition negotiations likely.
The vote also included a constitutional referendum, with early counts showing strong support for replacing the military-backed 2017 charter.
Thailand now faces a complex period of government formation, constitutional debate, and unresolved regional tensions, as Anutin seeks to convert electoral momentum into a stable governing mandate.