Thai Election Commission says junta-aligned Palang Pracharath Party won popular vote

The commission announced earlier that the main anti-junta party, Pheu Thai, had won the most constituency seats in the March 24 vote

Both parties have said the results mean they have a mandate to form the next government

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Leaders of the pro-junta political party, Palang Pracharath, greet supporters in Bangkok. Photo: EPA

Published: 6:04pm, 28 Mar 2019Updated: 10:19pm, 28 Mar 2019

Thailand’s Election Commission said Thursday that 100 per cent of the votes from the recent general election had been counted and a party allied with the ruling junta has won the most votes, though the results are not yet official.

In a surprise news conference, the commission did not say how many seats that would translate into for the Palang Pracharath party.

The commission announced earlier that the main anti-junta party, Pheu Thai, had won the most constituency seats in Sunday’s vote, the first since a 2014 military coup.

Both parties have said the results mean they have a mandate to form the next government.

Can seven-party ‘democratic front’ block path to power for junta proxies?

The Election Commission, appointed by the ruling junta’s hand-picked legislature, has faced mounting pressure to speed up the vote count and to address widespread concerns about potential irregularities.

In addition to being criticised on social media, the US, European Union, Australia and others had called for the commission to address such concerns.

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