24 March
People in Thailand are heading to the polls to choose 500 members of the lower house of Parliament.
Around 90,000 polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. local time. This is the first general election since growing anti-government protests were followed by a military coup in 2014. The military said that was a temporary move aimed at restoring stability and set up an "interim" government.
It has governed the country since then, with former army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha serving as prime minister. The government established a political party and skewed the political system in the hope of maintaining power after the election. Parties that hope to restore democracy are vying for voters' support.
One opposition party has a support base comprising urban elites and middle-class people, while another is supported by young voters. Recent polls show a political party affiliated with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has a strong lead due to support from rural voters and the poor. Various changes in the electoral system mean it will be hard for a single party to obtain a majority in parliament. Voters will likely have to wait for negotiations aimed at establishing a coalition to see who will lead the country.
Prayut arrived at a polling station in Bangkok in the morning to cast his vote. After voting, he told reporters that he hopes people will exercise their right to vote because everybody wants democracy. He called on people to support the country's growth.
Vote counting will begin immediately after polling stations close. Preliminary results for 350 seats for electoral districts will be announced as soon as Sunday night.—NHK
