1988 Thai general election

Last updated
1988 Thai general election
Flag of Thailand.svg
  1986 24 July 1988 March 1992  

All 357 seats in the House of Representatives
179 seats needed for a majority
Registered26,658,638
Turnout63.56% (Increase2.svg 2.13pp)
 First partySecond partyThird party
  Chatichai Choonhavan.jpg Siddhi Savetsila (1980).jpg Bhichai Rattakul 2010-04-01 (9to12).jpg
Leader Chatichai Choonhavan Siddhi Savetsila Bhichai Rattakul
Party Chart Thai Social Action Democrat
Last election17.26%, 63 seats12.12%, 51 seats22.52%, 100 seats
Seats won875448
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 24Increase2.svg 3Decrease2.svg 52
Popular vote7,612,1484,651,1614,456,077
Percentage19.29%11.79%11.29%

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
RTP
Samak Sundaravej 1976.jpg
Leader Narong Wongwan Samak Sundaravej Tianchai Sirisampan
Party Ruam Thai Thai Citizen People
Last election4.41%, 19 seats6.94%, 24 seats7.40%, 18 seats
Seats won343121
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 15Increase2.svg 7Increase2.svg 3
Popular vote3,988,9412,413,5202,336,962
Percentage10.11%6.12%5.92%

 Seventh partyEighth partyNinth party
  echlimphanth sriiwikrm.jpg
TPP
Chamlong Srimuang 2008 (cropped).jpg
Leader Chalermphan Srivikorn Arthit Kamlang-ek Chamlong Srimuang
Party People's Thai People Palang Dharma
Last election0.23%, 0 seats0.52%, 1 seats
Seats won191714
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 19Increase2.svg 16New
Popular vote2.454.8703,143,8513,586,878
Percentage6.22%7.97%9.09%

Prime Minister before election

Prem Tinsulanonda
Independent

Elected Prime Minister

Chatichai Choonhavan
Chart Thai

General elections were held in Thailand on 24 July 1988. The Thai Nation Party emerged as the largest party, winning 87 of the 357 seats. Voter turnout was 64%. [1]

Leaders of the top five elected political parties, consisting of the Thai Nation Party, the Social Action Party, the Democrat Party, the Ruam Thai Party and the Thai Citizen Party, discussed forming a government. All agreed that General Prem Tinsulanonda, the incumbent prime minister, should continue in office, and met with him his residence at Ban Si Sao Thewet on the evening of 27 July. However, Tinsulanonda refused to serve as prime minister for a fourth term, saying eight years and five months as Prime Minister was enough. Chatichai Choonhavan of the Thai Nation Party subsequently became Prime Minister on 4 August, appointing his cabinet on 9 August. Tinsulanonda was appointed as a Privy Councilor on 23 August.

Results

16th Thailand House of Representatives.svg
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Thai Nation Party 7,612,14819.2987+24
Social Action Party 4,651,16111.7954+3
Democrat Party 4,456,07711.2948–52
Ruam Thai Party 3,988,94110.1134+15
Palang Dharma Party 3,586,8789.0914New
Thai People Party 3,143,8517.9717+16
People's 2,454,8706.2219+19
Thai Citizen Party 2,413,5206.1231+7
People Party 2,336,9625.9221+3
Community Action  [ th ]1,127,4182.869–6
Progress Party 1,114,4682.828–1
United Democrat Party  [ th ]810,5472.056–32
Liberal Party 690,4861.753+2
Mass Party 622,9331.585+2
Social Democratic Force 273,9320.691New
Thai Agro Industry179,5630.460New
Total39,463,755100.00357+10
Valid votes16,350,14396.49
Invalid/blank votes594,7883.51
Total votes16,944,931100.00
Registered voters/turnout26,658,63863.56
Source: Nohlen et al.

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p286 ISBN   0-19-924959-8