The Thai general election has shown the world that the Thai people are ready for progressive social changes. The Move Forward Party won 151 seats of a possible 500, with the help of the second biggest party Pheu Thai which won 141 seats and four other smaller parties a progressive coalition will have sixty percent of the seats in the lower house.

The Move Forward Party has promised radical reform including the scaping of compulsory military service, abolishing conscription laws and the relaxing strict of lese majeste laws which prohibit any criticism of the king Maha Vajiralongkorn punishable by fifteen years in prison.

The Move Forward Party heavily relied on the youth vote but using new campaign tactics with use of social media and Meme culture which has worked to great effect engaging young voters as this election had a record voter turnout of 75.2%.

Image: Image: Shutterstock: kan Sangtong

Produced By: Dominic Giles

Featured In Story: Dr Greg Raymond, Senior Lecturer at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at the Australia National University

First aired on The Wire, Tuesday 16 May 2023