Thailand election 2026: can ‘orange wave’ break conservative grip on power?
The Senate can no longer pick the prime minister, opening a path to victory for the reformist People’s Party in the election on February 8
Conservatives hold the keys to government in the kingdom, where politicians, tycoons and generals serving the apex power of the monarchy allow elections, but conjure up coups and other political manoeuvres to take down winners perceived as a threat to their power.
But this time could be different, says Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, the leader of the pro-democracy reformist People’s Party.
Natthaphong, better known by his nickname Teng, helms a movement which won the most seats at the general election three years ago, but ended up shunted into opposition.
“This will be the first time in 15 years that the voice of the people can truly decide the government,” Teng told This Week in Asia on a campaign walkaround at a market in Samut Prakan, with his team wearing jackets splashed with the party’s distinctive orange colour.
“The past two elections, we had senators [with] power to vote for the prime minister – this election is the first time we have no senator power.”
Thailand’s new Senate, which took office in 2024, is no longer allowed to vote for the prime minister. Instead, only the 500 lawmakers voted into the House of Representatives by the February poll will decide who leads the government.