Call for vote recount gathers steam after conservatives win Thai election

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – Calls for a vote recount are gaining momentum after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s conservative Bhumjaithai Party won Sunday’s general election in Thailand.

On Wednesday, demonstrators gathered at the Office of the Election Commission in Bangkok, demanding a nationwide vote recount.

According to the Bangkok Post, protesters cited irregularities in vote counts and called for a new tally to be conducted publicly.

“We accept loss but can’t accept intransparency,” said demonstration leader Nopasin Treerayapiwat, who denied that his group had support from any political party.

Natthawat Sangiamsak, deputy secretary-general of the Election Commission Office in charge of complaints, said Wednesday that all issues and complaints would be examined according to the law.

He added that officials were expediting the process and expected it to be completed within one to two days, according to Nation Thailand.

On Tuesday, the progressive People’s Party demanded a recount in 18 constituencies.

Prime Minister Anutin said Tuesday that the Election Commission has the sole authority to decide whether to order a recount in all constituencies, or selective recounts in constituencies, adding that the government cannot interfere.

He told Thai PBS that he had no objection if the commission orders recounts in all constituencies, as long as the process is done in accordance with the law.

With around 94% of ballots counted, unofficial results show the Bhumjaithai party securing close to 193 of the 500 seats in the lower house of parliament, making it the single largest party in the chamber.

The party, however, is still short of the 251 seats required to form a government on its own.

People’s Party has won 118 seats, while the populist Pheu Thai Party, backed by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, secured 74 seats, the results showed.

The Democratic Party won 22 seats.