Politics

Anutin Charnvirakul, the caretaker prime minister of Thailand, is getting ready for coalition discussions following a surprising win in the recent election for his conservative Bhumjaithai Party. According to Channel 3, Bhumjaithai is expected to secure nearly 200 seats in the election held on Sunday, February 8, 2026. While this puts them ahead of other parties, they still do not have a majority in the 500-seat lower house. The progressive People’s Party is projected to earn just over 100 seats, and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai Party ranks third. Pheu Thai may become a potential partner for Anutin, as they previously worked together until Bhumjaithai withdrew due to a scandal related to the Cambodia border issue. Thaksin is currently serving a one-year prison sentence for corruption, but many believe he could be released sooner due to a political agreement. Anutin, who assumed office in September, refrained from commenting on coalition negotiations on Sunday, February 8, 2026, stating that the election results are still unofficial. “We will wait until it’s clearer, and every party must meet with their executive board to discuss their position,” he remarked.