| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Rathasapha / National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Saphaphuthan Ratsadon / House of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Wuthisapha / Senate
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
2 February 2014 |
| Purpose of elections |
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's Pheu Thai party (PP) retained power, winning around 300 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives according to unofficial results. The elections were boycotted by the main opposition Democrat Party (DP) and took place in a context of intense anti-government demonstrations.
The registration process of candidates was blocked in 28 constituencies by opponents of the government and voting was cancelled in 89 constituencies (33 in the capital Bangkok and 56 in southern provinces). Around 12 million of the 49 million eligible voters were therefore unable to vote. The elections did not return the minimum number of members required to convene the House of Representatives (95 per cent of the 500 members, or 475), thereby plunging the country into political limbo.
The 2014 elections were triggered by protests following the government's attempt to introduce an amnesty bill that would have allowed the return from exile of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, an elder brother of the current Prime Minister. Street protests led by former deputy prime minisiter Suthep Thaugsuban (DP) continued to escalate, despite the promise of early elections. Protesters demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister, accusing her of leading a proxy government of Mr. Thaksin, who lives in self-imposed exile in Dubai, and faces corruption charges in Thailand.
Following the February elections, the Constitutional Court dismissed a petition by the DP to declare the election null and void. As at 25 February 2014, no date has been set for the elections for the seats that have not yet been filled. Elections for 77 indirectly elected senators are scheduled for 30 March, even though the Senate normally can not meet until the newly-elected House of Representatives has been convened.
On 21 March 2014 the Constitutional Court nullified the February 2014 elections to the House of Representatives, in accordance with the 2007 Constitution (Charter), which stipulates that election day must be the same throughout the Kingdom. |
Date of previous elections: 3 July 2011
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 9 December 2013
Timing of election: Early elections
Expected date of next elections: February 2018
Number of seats at stake: 500 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: Not available
Percentage of women candidates: Not available
Number of parties contesting the election: Over 50 |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 2 February 2014 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
43'024'042
20'129'976 (46.79%)
|
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Notes
|
The turnout figures above excludes those registered in the nine southern provinces where voting was cancelled. |
| Distribution of votes |
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| Distribution of seats |
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| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
%
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| Distribution of seats according to age |
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| Distribution of seats according to profession |
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| Comments |
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Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
