2007 Thai general election

The 2007 Thai general elections were held on 23 December. This was the first legislative election after the Council for National Security, a military junta, overthrew Thailand's elected government and suspended the constitution on September 19, 2006. The junta cancelled general elections scheduled for October 2006 and promised new elections within 12 months. The junta then outlawed the Thai Rak Thai party, the largest political party in Thailand, and banned TRT executives from contesting elections for 5 years. After some former TRT members joined the People's Power Party (PPP), the junta then issued a classified order to suppress the activities of the Party. The order was leaked to the public, leading to a complaint towards the Election Commission from the PPP. However, the Commission dismissed the complaint on the grounds that the CNS had granted itself immunity in the 2007 Constitution of Thailand.

The junta deployed 200,000 soliders and police officers to maintain security and 1,500 officers to supervise after election fraud. Charnchai Silapauaychai, a popular former Democrat Party member from Phrae who switched to the PPP for the 2008 election, was assassinated. Five men, one of them cousin of a powerful Democrat Party MP were arrested, but all denied involvement.

A poll from late August saw the Democrat Party in the lead with 43.0%, followed by the People's Power Party with 20.7% and Thais United with 7.7%. A poll from November 2007 saw the PPP lead with 39%, followed by the Democrat Pary with 32%, the Thai Nation Party with 10%, the Neutral Democratic Party with 9% and For the Motherland with 5%. However, another poll from late November saw the Democrat Party lead with 43% to the PPP's 24%.

Some of the political parties contesting this election, 400 constituency and 80 party-list seats, are:

• Democrat Party (Phak Prachatipat) led by Abhisit Vejjajiva.
• For the Motherland Party (Phak Pua Paendin) led by Suwit Kunkitti.
• Neutral Democratic Party (Phak Matchima Thippathai) led by Prachai Leophairatana.
• People's Power Party (Phak Palang Prachachon) led by Samak Sundaravej.
• Royal People Party (Phak Pracha Raj) led by Sanoh Thienthong.
• Thai Nation Party (Phak Chart Thai) led by Banharn Silpa-Archa.
• Thais United National Development Party (Phak Ruam Jai Thai Chat Pattana) led by Chettha Thanajaro.

Voting system

Map of electoral areas

With the new constitution the number of MPs was reduced to 480, with 400 elected directly at one of the 157 constituencies and 10 elected by proportional vote in each of the eight electoral areas. Depending on the population the constituencies can have one to three MPs.

Early voting started on 2007-12-15.

The eight electoral areas are established to distribute population evenly.

• Area 1 : 11 provinces with 7,615,610 population - Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son,Phayao, Nan, Lampang, Lamphun, Phrae, Sukhothai, Tak, and Kamphaeng Phet
• Area 2 : 9 provinces with 7,897,563 population - Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Phetchabun, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Lop Buri, and Uttaradit
• Area 3 : 10 provinces with 7,959,163 population - Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Loei, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Nong Bua Lamphu, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Maha Sarakham, and Amnat Charoen
• Area 4 : 6 provinces with 7,992,434 population - Roi Et, Yasothon, Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, and Buri Ram
• Area 5 : 10 provinces with 7,818,710 population - Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, and Pathum Thani
• Area 6 : 3 provinces with 7,802,639 population - Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan
• Area 7 : 15 provinces with 7,800,965 population - Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Ranong, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Samut Sakhon, and Samut Songkhram
• Area 8 : 12 provinces with 7,941,622 population - Surat Thani, Phang Nga, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Phuket, Trang, Phatthalung, Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala

Timing of the election

Although the junta initially scheduled the elections for within 12 months of the September 2006 coup, the Prime Minister's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan later announced that elections might not occur until one year and five months, which would put the election in February or March 2008. On the other hand, the chairman of the Constitution Drafting Council, Noranit Sethabutr, said in January that the timetable was to hold a constitutional referendum in August and elections between October and December; any problems in drafting the constitution or ratifying it through the referendum would delay the election date. This timetable was later tightened even further, with elections planned by the end of September 2007. A preliminary date was set in March 2007 for the elections to be held on 16 December 2007 or 23 December 2007. After the constitutional referendum, it was announced that the most likely date would be 23 December, which was formally agreed upon on 27 August 2007.

Results

Two exit polls gave the PPP a clear first place, with either 256 to the Democrats' 162 seats (giving them an absolute majority of the 480 seats) or with 202 to the Democrats' 146. Four smaller parties also took seats. While the Democrats' acknowledged their election defeat and stated it was the PPP's right to form the government, it is unclear what the military will do now, as the PPP is based mostly on former TRT supporters.

The preliminary final results gave the PPP 226 seats, the Democrat Party 166 seats and Chart Thai 39 seats. For the Motherland got 26 seats, Ruam Jai Thai Chat Pattana 10, the Neutral Democratic Party 7 and Pracharat 4 seats.

PPP is now in coalition talks, but the third and fourth party are reportedly under pressure from the military government not to support PPP. The PPP stated on 2007-12-24, however, that they had already achieved the necessary support.

External links

Exit polls indicate pro-Thaksin party lead in Thai election at Wikinews Media related to Thai general election, 2007 at Wikimedia Commons