Thailand has been hit by a “political earthquake” as voters gave a stunning rebuke of army-backed rule in weekend elections.
The progressive opposition party Move Forward rode an extraordinary surge in support and defied almost every prediction.
The party trounced the military-backed rival parties that have controlled government for nearly a decade since a coup in 2014.
The Move Forward party and the other main opposition party Pheu Thai dominated Sunday’s ballot and are looking to form a coalition.
But they could face challenges in mustering enough support, with parliamentary rules drafted by the military after the coup skewed in favour of its allies.
Move Forward’s leader Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, told the BBC: “We didn’t leave any stones unturned.”
“People have had enough in the last decade. Now, it’s a new day.”
He proposed an alliance of six parties that would command 309 seats, with him as prime minister. That would be short of the 376 seats needed to ensure he was elected to the top job.
Asked about the junta-appointed upper house Senate, he said all sides must respect the election outcome and there was no use going against it.
“I am not worried but I am not careless,” he said on Monday.
“It will be quite a hefty price to pay if someone is thinking about debunking the election result or forming a minority government.”
Pheu Thai, controlled by the billionaire Shinawatra family, said it agreed with Mr Pita’s proposal and wished him luck in efforts to become prime minister.
The party had won most seats in every election this century, including twice in landslides. But it met its match against Move Forward as it came close to a sweep of the capital Bangkok and made gains in some Pheu Thai and conservative strongholds.
“Pheu Thai has no plan to form any other government,” leader Chonlanan Srikaew said.
Asked about the possibility of their coalition being thwarted by the upper house, he said: “In principle, Senators will have to respect the people’s voice.”
Though the results appear to be a hammer blow for the military and its allies, with parliamentary rules on their side and some influential power-brokers behind them, they could determine the shape of a new government.
Move Forward was galvanised by a wave of excitement among the youth over its liberal agenda and promises of bold changes, including breaking up monopolies and reforming a law on insulting the monarchy.
The party added a new dimension to the battle for power that was for years centred on the polarising Shinawatra family and a pro-military establishment, that brought two decades of on-off tumult.
Mr Pita said Move Forward would press ahead with its plan to amend strict lese majeste laws against insulting the monarchy, which critics say have been used to stifle free speech. Thailand’s palace does not comment on the law or its use.
The law punishes perceived insults by up to 15 years in prison, with hundreds of people facing charges, some of whom are in pre-trial detention.
Mr Pita said parliament would be the right forum to seek amendments to the law, or article 112 of the criminal code.
“We will use the parliament to make sure that there is a comprehensive discussion with maturity, with transparency in how we should move forward in terms of the relationship between the monarchy and the masses,” he said.
Asked if Pheu Thai would back that, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, one of its main candidates, said it could be discussed in the legislature.
“Pheu Thai has a clear stand that we won’t abolish 112 but there can be a discussion about the law in parliament,” she said.
