As Thais head to polls, can the reformist People's Party break the cycle?

"But in Thailand, winning an election does not guarantee the right to govern. Known simply as the Orange party for its signature colour, the People's Party is the latest incarnation of a progressive movement that has repeatedly clashed with Thailand's royalist conservative establishment. Its predecessor won the last election in 2023, taking 151 seats in the 500-member House. Yet it was blocked from power by a military-appointed Senate and later dissolved by the Constitutional Court over its calls to curb the powers of the monarchy."

"Our soldiers' might have grown in number, but the conservative side's arsenal is still devastatingly strong, said Thankrit Duangmaneeporn, co-director of Breaking the Cycle, a documentary about the Orange Movement. But he said he hoped the party could still force the entrenched establishment into a compromise by demonstrating overwhelming support at the polls. We will fight at the ballot box on Sunday, he said. That is all we can do."

Thailand's People's Party leads polls with high-visibility orange campaign buses, rallies and viral social media videos that have generated public hope for democratic reform. The party champions curbing monarchical powers and represents a progressive movement that has repeatedly confronted a royalist-conservative establishment. Winning elections has not guaranteed governance, as courts, a military-appointed Senate, coups, and dissolutions have removed reformist governments over the past quarter-century. The People's Party's predecessor won in 2023 but was blocked by the Senate and dissolved by the Constitutional Court. Party supporters aim to demonstrate overwhelming electoral support to pressure the establishment into compromise.

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