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2007 Thailand general election

Thai general election, 2007
Thailand
← 2006 23 December 2007 2011 →

All 480 seats to the House of Representatives of Thailand
241 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
  Samak Sundaravej.JPG Vejjajivacropped.jpg
Leader Samak Sundaravej Abhisit Vejjajiva
Party People's Power Democrat
Leader's seat Bangkok Constituency 6 Bangkok Constituency 6
Last election Did not contest 96 seats, 18.3%1
Seats won 233 165
Seat change Increase233 Increase 69
Popular vote 26,293,456 (Constituency)
14,071,799 (Proportional)
21,745,696 (Constituency)
14,084,265 (Proportional)
Percentage 36.63% (Constituency)
39.60% (Proportional)
30.30% (Constituency)
39.63% (Proportional)

Prime Minister before election

Surayud Chulanont

Prime Minister-designate

Samak Sundaravej
People's Power


Surayud Chulanont

Samak Sundaravej
People's Power

The 2007 Thai general elections were held on 23 December. This was the first legislative election after the Council for National Security, a military junta, had overthrown Thailand's elected government and abrogated the constitution on September 19, 2006. The junta had canceled general elections scheduled for October 2006 and promised new elections within 12 months. The Constitutional Tribunal then outlawed the Thai Rak Thai party, the largest political party in Thailand, and banned TRT executives from contesting in the elections for five years. After their political party had been dissolved, the former TRT members regrouped under the band of People's Power Party (PPP) led by Samak Sundaravej, the seasoned politician. Following its formation, the junta issued a classified order to suppress the activities of the PPP and to frame it for lèse majesté. The order was leaked to the public, leading to a complaint towards the Election Commission from the PPP. However, the Election Commission dismissed the complaint on the grounds that the Council for National Security (CNS) had granted itself immunity in the 2007 Constitution of Thailand.

The junta deployed 200,000 soldiers and police officers to maintain security and 1,500 officers to supervise after election fraud. Charnchai Silapauaychai, a popular former Democrat Party member from Phrae who switched to the PPP for the 2008 election, was assassinated. Five men, one of them cousin of a powerful Democrat Party MP were arrested, but all denied involvement.


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