Pheu Thai's By-Election Win Strengthens Coalition's Unity
The Pheu Thai Party's victory in the Phitsanulok by-election on September 15 has strengthened the coalition parties' unity, signaling that they will continue to collaborate and unite against the opposition People's Party (PP) in the next general election.
Several factors contributed to Pheu Thai's victory, including:
- The absence of advance voting, which affected the PP's young supporters who had moved away from their home provinces for work.
- The lack of interest in the by-election compared to a general election, which resulted in lower voter turnout.
- The PP's candidate failed to capture the voters' interest and motivate them to go to the polls.
- A PP MP's criticism of the military during the campaign backfired, offending the local community.
- Pheu Thai had the support of all coalition parties, which did not field candidates in the by-election, allowing the Pheu Thai candidate to run without contest.
Pheu Thai's victory in the by-election may foreshadow the 2027 general election result. Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is expected to act as a power broker to ensure the coalition parties unite against the PP in the next poll. The competition in each constituency is expected to be close, with Pheu Thai and its coalition allies facing off against the PP.
The PP's defeat in the by-election has exposed its weaknesses, including its uncompromising stance and lack of focus on local community needs. The party should soften its stance and shift its focus towards policies that address the needs of local communities in each region.
Local political clans played a key role in the by-election, with Pheu Thai maintaining ties with these clans. The PP's failure to engage with these clans contributed to its loss.
