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Thailand’s sidelined reformists battle ‘baan yai’ dynasties to repeat election win
It could become ‘everybody vs the People’s Party’ as old power networks unite to crush the movement that won the popular vote in 2023
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Aidan Jonesin Bangkok
As the pieces of Thailand’s political puzzle begin to fall into place ahead of an election set for early next year, the third incarnation of a reformist party that won the most votes last time around is seeking a repeat performance.
But the People’s Party, whose predecessor was not only denied the chance to govern but ultimately dissolved by the Constitutional Court last year for attempting to reform the country’s royal defamation law, has a steep hill to climb.
Conservative forces and the sprawling patronage networks of Thailand’s baan yai (“big house”) political dynasties have started to coalesce around Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, 59, drawing in powerful regional vote banks.
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“It could become everybody vs the People’s Party,” said Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, a People’s Party MP from Bangkok helping to vet candidates for the election, expected in March.
“That will be bad for us. Thailand is very conservative and in bad economic times people tend to rely on the older powers and baan yai for support.”
The baan yai dominate Thailand’s political and economic life. Several of them publicly declared support for Anutin this month, including the Khunpleums of eastern Chonburi, Varawut Silap-archa – son of veteran power broker Banharn – and multiple defectors from the Pheu Thai party of billionaire former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
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