On May 8, Thailand held its general election, with early unofficial results indicating that the conservative, minority party, the Bhumjaithai Party, led by Prime Minister Anutin, is forecasted to emerge as the largest party. The party gained support by emphasizing security in the wake of border disputes with Cambodia. However, they are expected to fall short of an outright majority, raising questions about their ability to form a coalition government with other conservative parties. Reports suggest that the Bhumjaithai Party will secure over 190 seats out of 500, a significant increase from their previous total of 71 seats, thanks largely to the support from influential regional leaders.

In a surprising turn from predictions of a closely contested election among the three main parties, the other two parties struggled significantly. The progressive opposition party, Move Forward Party, which had previously held 151 seats, is now projected to win less than 120, despite receiving around 28% of the proportional votes. The leader of the party acknowledged defeat and ruled out the possibility of joining a coalition government with the Bhumjaithai Party. Additionally, the Thai Sang Thai Party, formerly led by former Prime Minister Thaksin, is facing a notable decline, expected to end with around 70 seats, halving their previous count amid public disappointment over a lack of noticeable achievements in governance.

Thailand is grappling with numerous structural issues, including delays in new industry development and wealth disparity. Political instability, marked by military coups and power struggles, has hindered timely responses to these challenges. Since the military coup in 2014, Thailand's GDP growth rate has languished around 2%, falling behind neighboring countries like Malaysia, which often exceeds 5%. There are growing concerns about the political and social reforms necessary to address the stagnation and the perception of Thailand as the 'sick man of Asia.' The potential formation of a conservative coalition government, with the Bhumjaithai Party as a key player, could influence the direction of Thailand's reforms in the coming months, especially as a prime ministerial election is expected in early May.