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Thailand Election 2026: Debt worries, economic uncertainty loom large on voters’ minds
Voters in Thailand prioritize sustainable economic policies over cash handouts amid slow growth and high living costs, with nearly 53 million eligible voters facing a pivotal election.
- Parties held last campaign rallies on Friday as nearly 53 million eligible voters prepare for Feb 8 polls amid scepticism of vote-buying in northern and north-eastern rural provinces.
- Amid chronically slow growth, Thai voters faced cost-of-living issues like electricity and fuel and preferred sustainable support through technology and education.
- Pheu Thai Party promoted giveaways like lotteries awarding nine people one million baht each and income top‑ups under $1,140, while caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul emphasised national security and stimulus; Yodchanan Wongsawat stressed science and technology.
- On Feb 8, voters will decide whether to authorize Parliament to start rewriting the 2017 Constitution, with 400 constituency‑elected lawmakers and 100 party‑list MPs, making coalition bargaining crucial.
- Repeated constitutional amendment failures and court dissolutions of Future Forward and Move Forward parties have fostered public scepticism, weakening the 'vote yes' campaign in Isan’s 29 provinces with almost 25 million voters and 170 parliamentary seats.
Insights by Ground AI
11 Articles
11 Articles
Voters in Thailand want more than just handouts
Where once many in Thailand’s rural provinces in the north and north-east would be quick to welcome promises of quick government giveaways, voters who spoke to ST are sceptical about such populist election measures. Read more at straitstimes.com.
·Singapore
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution40% Left, 40% Center
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Left, 40% of the sources are Center
40% Center
L 40%
C 40%
R 20%
Factuality
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