Thailand

House of Representatives

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s): 14 May 2023
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 20 Mar 2023
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: 31 May 2028
Number of seats at stake: 500
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Voter turnout

Registered voters: 52,195,920
Voters: 39,514,973
Voter turnout: 75.7%

Results

About the election: No party won a majority in the 500-member House of Representatives. Opposition parties fared well: the Move Forward Party came first, winning 151 seats, or ten more than the Pheu Thai Party (see note 1). The Bhumjaithai Party, led by Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, increased its share of seats to 71 and finished third. Other parties supporting the incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha lost seats: Palang Pracharath finished fourth, while his United Thai Nation Party finished fifth (see note 2). The number of women increased from 79 (15.8%) to 96 (19.2%).

On 23 May, the Move Forward Party signed a coalition agreement with seven other parties including Pheu Thai (see note 3). The coalition jointly holds 313 seats. In accordance with the transitional provisions of the 2017 Constitution, the new Prime Minister is elected jointly by the House of Representatives and the Senate for the first five years after the date of installation of the first National Assembly in 2019.

The 2023 elections were the first to be held after the 2021 constitutional amendments. The number of constituency seats has increased from 350 to 400 while the number of members elected under the proportional representation system decreased from 150 to 100. During the election campaigning, the major parties focused on minimum wage, medical marijuana, the new constitution as well as the country’s strict lese majeste laws, which the Move Forward Party promised to amend.

Note 1:

The Move Forward Party is led by Mr. Pita Limjaroenrat. It includes members of the Future Forward Party, which was dissolved by the Constitutional Court decision of 2020.

Pheu Thai comprises supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in the 2014 coup. His daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, contested the election as one of three premiership candidates.

Note 2:

The Palang Pracharath Party supported Mr. Prayut Chan-o-cha in the 2019 elections. Amid fear of the party’s possible dissolution, the Prime Minister established the United Thai Nation Party in 2021.

Note 3:

The other coalition parties are: Thai Sang Thai, Prachachat, Thai Liberal Party (Seri Ruam Thai), Pheu Thai Ruam Palang, Fair Party, and the New Social Power Party (Plung Sungkom Mai).
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition: 30.2%

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group	Total
Move Forward	151
Pheu Thai	141
Bhumjaithai	71
Palang Pracharath	40
United Thai Nation	36
Democrat Party	25
Chart Thai Pattana	10
Prachachart	9
Thai Sang Thai	6
Chart Pattana Kla	2
Pheu Thai Ruam Palang	2
Fair Party	1
New Democracy	1
New Party	1
New Social Power Party	1
Teachers for People	1
Thai Counties	1
Thai Liberal Party	1

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 404
Number of women elected: 96

Notes:
In all, 96 women were elected in the May 2023 elections. The number of women decreased to 94 after two women, elected under the proportional representation system, were replaced by male members in July 2023. Additionally, a male member elected under the majority system resigned. This vacancy is to be filled in a by-election.

As at 10 August 2023, there were 94 women out of 499 members with one vacancy.
Percentage of women elected: 19.2%
Women Directly Elected: 96
Other notes on the elections: Note on the timing of election:

The four-year term of the 2019 legislature started on 24 May 2019. It was dissolved with effect on 20 March 2023. Under the Constitution, polls must be held between 45 and 60 days after the dissolution.
Sources: House of Representatives (21.06.2023, 04.07.2023, 10.08.2023)

BBC Monitoring

Thailand: 2023 general election and possible outcomes, The (UK) House of Commons Library

https://www.reuters.com

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/

https://www.aljazeera.com/

https://www.france24.com/en

https://edition.cnn.com

https://www.nationthailand.com

https://asianews.network

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 404
Total number of women after the election: 96
Percentage of women after the election: 19.2%
First-term parliamentarians: 268
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: 53.6%
Date of the first session: 04 Jul 2023

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Wan Muhamad Noor Matha (Male)
Date of birth: 11 May 1944
Political party: Prachachart Party
Date of election: 04 Jul 2023

Updated at	Political system
2019-05	Parliamentary system
2005-01	Transitional system

Updated at	Structure of parliament
2019-05	Bicameral
-	Unicameral