A party backed by Thailand’s military government had a strong showing Sunday in Thailand’s first elections since a 2014 coup and appeared likely to hold off opponents who campaigned on restoring democracy in the Southeast Asian kingdom.
Thai electoral officials count ballots in Chiang Mai province after voting closed in Sunday's general election.
It was a surprisingly strong result for Palang Pracharat, which was formed just months ago with the sole purpose of prolonging Prayuth’s grip on power, and a sharp disappointment for pro-democracy parties that had campaigned against the junta’s repressive policies and lackluster economic record. Palang Pracharat was running neck and neck with Pheu Thai, the main opposition party whose prime minister was ousted in theA new pro-democracy party called Future Forward, led by a charismatic young auto parts scion, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, was in third place and was expected to form a coalition with Pheu Thai and smaller parties to control the legislature and serve as a check on the military.
Voting passed uneventfully nationwide with about 66% of Thailand’s 51 million eligible voters casting ballots, according to election officials. That was on par with past parliamentary elections but a lower figure than opposition parties had hoped for, believing that only a wave of voter anger could help dislodge Prayuth from power.The turnout suggested that many voters believed the election’s outcome had been preordained.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Polls open for Thailand's first election since 2014 military coupPolls opened on Sunday for Thailand's first election since a 2014 military ...
Read more »
March Madness: Here are projected No. 1 seeds in NCAA tournament bracket on Selection SundayDuke, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee are forecasted to be this year's No. 1 NCAA tournament seeds. What about Gonzaga? We dissect profiles.
Read more »
NCAA tournament bracket revealed on Selection SundayThe day everyone in college basketball waits for is here. Selection Sunday ends starts March Madness with the reveal of the NCAA tournament bracket.
Read more »
Indiana, Alabama, UNC-Greensboro among NCAA tournament's biggest snubs on Selection SundayUNC-Greensboro, Indiana, TCU and Alabama were among the biggest snubs the NCAA tournament selection committee didn't pick for the field Sunday.
Read more »
Trump in 'good spirits'; Mueller findings could be released SundayAG Barr will not submit a summary of his findings of Special Counsel Mueller’s report to Congress Saturday, according to a senior official at the Dept. of Justice.
Read more »
Findings of Trump-Russia report expected Sunday as Democrats vow further probesThe U.S. attorney general's summary of a special counsel report on Russian ...
Read more »
Attorney general pores over Russia report, details expected SundayU.S. Attorney General William Barr on Saturday pored over a special counsel repo...
Read more »
The 34th Los Angeles Marathon gets underway early SundaySunday's L.A. Marathon starts at Dodger Stadium, winds through downtown, then heads west to Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Century City, Brentwood and Santa Monica.
Read more »
Justice Dept. expected to issue summary of Mueller’s conclusions SundaySpecial counsel Robert Mueller has spent the last 22 months investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Read more »
Mueller report summary expected SundayAttorney General William Barr is expected to provide Congress and the public Sunday with his summary of the main conclusions from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, according to a person familiar with the process.
Read more »