Thailand's Bhumjaithai wins election

BANGKOK — Thailand faced a realignment of conservative politics on Monday after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's Bhumjaithai Party won a stronger-than-expected general election victory, with coalition talks expected to start in the coming days.

With 94 percent of votes counted, Bhumjaithai was way ahead of its rivals after Sunday's vote, securing 193 out of the 500 seats in Thailand's parliament, according to Reuters' calculations based on election commission data.

The election result sent Thai stocks up by around 3 percent, hitting their highest level in more than a year.

The People's Party, which led some polls in the run-up to the vote, trailed with 118 seats, with the Pheu Thai Party third with 74 seats.

A handful of other parties won a combined 115 spots in the 500-seat parliament, according to Reuters calculations, but the final number of party-list seats could change under Thailand's proportional electoral system. Anutin called the election in December after fewer than 100 days in office. He described the election result as "a victory for all Thais".

Asked about forming a coalition, Anutin said in a Monday news broadcast that he wanted to form a government with a strong majority but he was still waiting to see the final election results. "We need a strong government," he said.

Anutin also vowed to build a wall along Thailand's border with Cambodia and strengthen the military.

The prime minister previously indicated that if he were reelected, the incumbent ministers of finance, foreign affairs and commerce would retain their roles in the new cabinet.

Anutin, who took office in September, declined to be drawn Monday on potential coalition talks.

"Everything is still under consideration and in progress. Whatever the case, I have to bring this matter to the party meeting first," he told reporters. "There are still procedures to follow."

The left-leaning People's Party has already ruled out the possibility of joining a coalition led by Anutin, with its leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut saying late on Sunday that it would not seek to form a rival coalition.

Polls at the end of January had the People's Party significantly ahead of Bhumjaithai, but analysts said the surge in nationalism provoked by the Cambodia conflict favored the conservatives.

Voters also backed a proposal to change the constitution, with nearly two-thirds in favor of replacing a charter put in place. It is expected to take at least two years to implement the new constitution, with two more referendums required to endorse the drafting process and the final text.

Anutin vowed not to delay the work. "The government will act according to the people's will," he said.

Agencies via Xinhua