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Published on December 24, 2007

Although the vote count had not been completed by press time, the unofficial results show the People Power Party (PPP) appears to have won by a landslide in the upper half of the country - the North, Northeast and part of the Central region.

It shows strong support for PPP, which represents deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his disbanded Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party.

Meanwhile, the Democrats managed to secure their stronghold in the southern provinces. It also swept the Bangkok constituencies, which political observers regard as representing middle-class voters.

At press time, PPP was set to win 46 of 75 seats in the northern provinces while the Democrats looked to score 16. This is the bastion of Thaksin, whose hometown is Chiang Mai.

In the Northeast, PPP is set to win 97 of 135 seats while the Democrats look to be the biggest loser in the region with a mere two seats in their grasp. Puea Pandin is placed second with 14 seats, while Chart Thai should get 10 and Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana 9.

PPP's triumphs in the north and northeastern provinces show Thaksin is still the man who has the hearts of local people in those regions. They were the stronghold of the former TRT under Thaksin, whose popularity has been overwhelming since the 2001 national poll.

Yesterday's election proves his populist policies are still desired by the local people, most of whom are grassroots voters.

It is also a continuing part of the national referendum in August, in which Thaksin's supporters in the North and Northeast rejected the charter drafted by the junta-installed committee despite the draft being approved overall.

Although PPP looks set to win in the Central plains with 40 of 98 seats, the Democrats follow closely with 35 seats, while Chart Thai are third with 17.

The region was once a TRT stronghold. But since he was ousted and TRT dissolved by the Constitution Tribunal, a number of local TRT MPs moved to other parties. So the result for PPP was as expected in that its local voter base was spread among other parties.

The decline of Thaksin's popularity and power in the Central region played a major part in the Democrats' rise.

The overwhelming victory of the Democrats in southern provinces, where it swept about 50 of 56 seats, reaffirmed its grip on that region. It could be interpreted to a sentiment that most voters reject Thaksin because of the antipathy between him and Privy Council President Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, who is much respected by southerners.

Although PPP is likely to win only two seats in the troubled southernmost provinces, local voters have proved in recent elections that the area is open to any party.

In Bangkok, where middle-class and swing voters play a major role in the outcome, the Democrats proved they are the pick and are set to win 25 of 36 seats in the capital.

The results suggest Bangkok voters still fear possible unrest if PPP rules the country under Thaksin's shadow. It also points to people opposing a return to power by Thaksin, as he has not cleared himself from corruption charges.

The party-list vote nationwide saw a strong return for the Democrats, and a key PPP member accepted this showed the campaign highlighting Abhisit as an honest leader was effective. Those people want Abhisit to be the prime minister, the PPP member said.

The party-list result for the Democrats could be linked to several opinion surveys and polls that the majority wanted Abhisit to lead the government.

PPP deputy secretary-general Noppadon Pattama believes his party won because the people still had faith in former premier Thaksin.

He said the result reflected public sentiment that they rejected the coup and ousting of an elected government. And people believed PPP's policies were more convincing than those of other parties, he added.

Political Desk

 The Nation