Thailand votes after three leaders in two years

BANGKOK: Thais voted on Sunday in an election where progressive reformists were the clear opinion poll leaders but the incumbent conservative was expected to remain prime minister, extending the country's political impasse. The Southeast Asian nation's next government will need to contend with anaemic economic growth — the tourism sector vital but arrivals yet to return to their pre-Covid highs. Multibillion-dollar transnational cyberscam networks operate from several neighbouring countries, and a longstanding border dispute with Cambodia erupted into deadly fighting twice last year.

The progressive People's Party was the runaway leader in opinion polls ahead of the vote. But while its previous incarnation, Move Forward, won the most seats at the last poll three years ago, its candidate was blocked from the premiership and the party was later dissolved. Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut said after casting his ballot in Bangkok that he expected to 'get the mandate from the people'. 'We promise to the people that we'll form the people's government to bring policies that benefit all, not the few in the country,' he added. — AFP