Thai opposition take on kingdom's conservative cliques as voting begins

The election is the first since youth-led mass pro-democracy protests in 2020 and only the second since a military coup in 2014 ousted an elected government, restoring a conservative clique that has pulled the strings in the kingdom's turbulent politics for decades.

Lined against them are more progressive and populist leaning opposition parties campaigning for democratic reforms that have a history of attracting more working class voters in the city and rural regions as well as a new generation of politically awakened young people. Thaksin, a former policeman turned billionaire telecoms tycoon, and his sister Yingluck ran governments that were ousted in military coups. Both also live in exile, with Thai courts sentencing them to prison on corruption charges in their absence.Paetongtarn only entered politics three years ago but has presented herself as hailing from a new generation to connect with young Thais.

Analysts have called it"a game changer" — its candidates are campaigning on deep structural changes to how Thailand is run, including reforms to the military and the kingdom's strict lese majeste law — which prohibits criticism of the royal family and makes any open debate about its role fraught with risk.

But despite his poor performance in opinion polls, analysts have cautioned against underestimating him given his links to the country's elites., growing authoritarianism and widening inequality. Another candidate who could see his fortunes rise in any post-election wrangling is former army chief Prawit Wongsuwan, first deputy prime minister and former brother in arms with Prayut.The Bhumjaithai party's Anutin Charnvirakul could also prove influential in any post-election deals. Health Minister Anutin steered the country through the pandemic and was behind landmark legislation that decriminalized cannabis in the country last year.

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