COMMENT | Last Sunday, 53 million Thais had the opportunity to vote, with 65 percent doing so. The results have been characterised as a “surprise” victory for the conservative Bhumjaithai party led by incumbent prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

The progressive party People's Party (renamed from Move Forward and Future Forward) and the battered Pheu Thai, controlled by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, lost significant electoral ground.

Bhumjaithai’s victory showcases a decisive conservative electoral victory in terms of seat share, the first of its kind in this century for Thailand.

Lacking an outright majority, Anutin will still need to form a coalition government and is expected to do so by April. He has already announced that he will form a coalition with Pheu Thai.

Bhumjaithai’s electoral gains echo a parallel win by the...