Election Archive Home

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This list is not designed as a comprehensive survey of the many useful resources that are available online. Instead, it offers an overview of some key resources that may be helpful to journalists, analysts and readers who are following the Thai elections.

Political parties

The Election Commission of Thailand lists 66 political parties.  Half of those parties were established in 2007.  Major parties contesting the 23 December elections are:

  • Democrat Party: พรรคประชาธิปัตย์ Phak Prachatipat – Thailand’s oldest party, established 1945. (Wikipedia)
  • People Power Party: พรรคพลังประชาชน Phak Palang Prachachon – established 1998, refreshed with former Thai Rak Thai politicians in 2007. (Wikipedia)
  • Thai Nation Party: พรรคชาติไทย Phak Chart Thai – established 1982. (Wikipedia)
  • For the Motherland Party พรรคเผื่อแผ่นดิน Phak Pua Paendin – established 2007. (Wikipedia)
  • Thais United National Development Party พรรครวมใจไทย Ruam Jai Thai Chat Pattana – established 2007: (Wikipedia)
  • Royal People Party: Phak Phracharaj พรรคประชาราช, website currently offline – established 2007. (Wikipedia)
  • Neutral Democratic Party: พรรคมัชฌิมาธิปไตย Matchima Thippathai – established 2007. (Wikipedia)

Informative websites

  • Election Commision of Thailand: The english-language website loads slowly but is worth the wait. It offers a number of useful resources including relevant regulations and a list of political parties.
  • Thai Parliament: Provides some useful, if somewhat dated, information on the Thai system of government. More current information is available from the Thai central government website.
  • Asian Network for Free Elections: Has a team of observers spread around Thailand collecting evidence of the fairness of the elections. Their web resources include translations of relevant election laws.

Useful blogs

  • Bangkok Pundit: Operated by a very well-informed and well-connected analyst based in Thailand. The Pundit’s outstanding coverage of Thai politics will continue throughout election day.
  • Thailand Jumped the Shark: Devoted to providing critical comment on Thailand’s english-language media, it is often worth a look.
  • Rule of Lords: Provides an outlet for the writings of an experienced Asia-based human rights activist and commentator. Its coverage of outrages and abuses in Thailand (and in Burma) is top-notch.
  • Colonel Jeru: Formerly a prolific commentator on New Mandala, the Colonel ranges his firepower against Thaksin, Samak, Chalerm and others.

Media election coverage

  • Asia Sentinel – Interesting, and often anonymous, commentary on Thai politics
  • The Nation – There coverage in Our Country, Our Vote has started slowly but looks like it will warm up over the course of the evening.