Feb 18 • 08:00 UTC 🇯🇵 Japan Asahi Shimbun (JP)

Thailand General Election: Increasing Allegations of Vote Counting Irregularities, Re-elections and Recounts to Be Held in Some Areas

Thailand's recent general election has been marred by allegations of vote-counting irregularities, leading to plans for re-elections and recounts in several districts as protests erupt among voters.

In the wake of Thailand's general election, serious allegations of vote-counting irregularities have come to light, prompting the Election Commission to announce re-elections and recounts in four electoral districts and eight vote-counting venues. Since the voting date on May 8, citizens have taken to the streets to express their concerns regarding the transparency and accuracy of the counting process. Public broadcaster PBS has reported that the ruling conservative party, led by Prime Minister Anutin, is projected to secure 193 out of 500 seats, affirming its position as the leading party, although the official counting process is still incomplete.

Reports of disturbances at counting centers have surfaced, indicating that voters have temporarily occupied these venues due to uncertainties surrounding the counting process. Observers from the Thai election monitoring group Vote62 have noted instances where lighting within counting centers dimmed inexplicably and reports of missing ballots from several parties have been logged, leading opposition parties to demand recounts in 14 provinces and 18 constituencies. The Election Commission confirmed incidents of ballots being damaged in some venues during a press conference on May 13, further intensifying calls for greater scrutiny.

As negotiations unfold, the ruling party has already reached an agreement with the political faction of former Prime Minister Thaksin, ensuring that the coalition government will exceed the necessary majority of 251 seats. Despite the unfolding allegations and the potential for additional recounts and re-elections, political analysts suggest that the overall power dynamics are unlikely to shift dramatically as of now. The situation underscores the need for transparent electoral processes in Thailand and raises questions about constitutional amendments regarding future governance, adding layers to the ongoing political discourse in the country.

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