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May 15, 2023

Thai Voters Back Reform Parties in Sharp Rebuke to Monarchy and Military Gov't
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In another highly anticipated election, in Thailand, voters decisively
rejected the ruling military-backed government, which came to power in a
2014 coup, voting in large numbers for the youth-led reformist
opposition Move Forward Party and the populist Pheu Thai Party,
controlled by the billionaire Shinawatra family. The two parties have
agreed to form a coalition with other groups, though they'll have to
contend with rules established by the military, which gives the junta
significant power. This is Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat.

Pita Limjaroenrat: "The sentiment of the era has changed, and it's ripe.
It was the right timing, that people have been through enough of lost
decade in the past decade, and today is a new day."

Move Forward has vowed to reform Thailand's lèse-majesté laws, which saw
people arrested and jailed for insulting the monarchy following mass
youth-led protests in 2020 calling for reforms to the royal system.


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