General elections are scheduled to be held in Thailand on 8 February 2026 in order to determine the composition of the House of Representatives. A referendum will also be held on the same day so as to determine whether the 2017 constitution should be replaced with a new one.[1]
The 2023 general election produced a coalition government. The coalition included conservative, pro-military parties. After an initial attempt by the Move Forward Party failed, Pheu Thai formed governments first under Srettha Thavisin and later under Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Both administrations collapsed, with Srettha removed by a court ruling in 2024 and Paetongtarn dismissed by the Constitutional Court in 2025.
In September 2025, an agreement was made between the People's Party and Bhumjaithai Party to support Anutin Charnvirakul as Prime Minister. The agreement requires Anutin to dissolve the House within 4 months after the presentation of the government's policy platform, paving the way for an election in early 2026.[2] In October 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Borwornsak Uwanno proposed 29 March 2026 as the next election's date and constitutional referendum.[3] The House was dissolved on 12 December 2025,[4][5] with a snap election being required within 60 days, setting 8 February 2026 as the latest possible date.[6]
The previous election in 2023 saw a shift towards progressive parties, with the Move Forward Party winning 151 seats followed by the Thaksin-aligned Pheu Thai Party. The governing coalition of conservative parties only won 15% of the seats, with Bhumjaithai being the only one to increase their numbers.[7][8] Move Forward initially formed an eight party coalition with Pheu Thai, Thai Sang Thai, Prachachart, Thai Liberal, New Social Power, Thai Ruam Palang and the Fair Party. The coalition had a total 313 MPs and gave them a majority in the House of Representatives.[9] However, during the 2023 election, the PM was to be chosen by MPs and Senators who were junta-appointed. As such, Move Forward's leader Pita Limjaroenrat failed to gain enough votes to become PM.[10] The opportunity to form government passed to Pheu Thai who formed a coalition excluding Move Forward that included conservative parties such as Bhumjaithai, and the military-backed Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation Parties.[11] Their candidate, Srettha Thavisin, was elected PM on 22 August with the support of most Senators.[12]
This will be the third election under the 2017 constitution, which was implemented under the National Council for Peace and Order (the junta that took power in the 2014 Thai coup d'état), and the first after the expiration of the constitution's five-year transitory provision that gave the senate voting rights to choose the prime minister in a joint session of parliament. As such, unlike in 2023 when the junta-appointed senate (whose term also ends after five years) blocked the election's winner from forming government, this time the outcome of the election should determine the resulting government.[2][13]
Composition of the House when it was dissolved on 12 December 2025.
On 3 August 2023, Move Forward MP Nakhonchai Khunnarong resigned over his criminal record, but Move Forward held Rayong 3rd district after Phongsathorn Sornpetchnarin won the by-election.[14] On 28 September, Move Forward MP for Phitsanulok 1st district Padipat Suntiphada left the party to retain his position as First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand, which the opposition party is barred from holding.[15] As sitting MPs are required to be members of political parties, Padipat joined the Fair Party on 31 October increasing that party's total seats to two.[16] Amid a sexual assault scandal, Move Forward expelled two MPs in November 2023 - Wuttiphong Thonglour of Prachinburi on 1 November and Chaiyamparwaan Munphianchit of Bangkok on 7 November.[17] By the end of November, Chaiyamparwaan joined the Thai Progress Party as its only MP whilst Wuttiphong joined the Chart Pattana Party and increased its number of MPs to three.[18] On 30 August 2023, the sole MP and leader of the Thai Liberal Party, Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, resigned his seat and was replaced by Mangkorn Yontrakul also from the Thai Liberal.[19]
On 7 August 2024, Move Forward was dissolved by the Constitutional Court over the party's campaign to amend Thailand's lèse-majesté laws.[20] The dissolution accompanied five sitting party-list MPs receiving 10-year bans from politics: Pita Limjaroenrat, Chaithawat Tulathon, Apichart Sirisunthon, Bencha Saengchantra and Suthep U-on. As party-list seats, no by-elections were held and the five seats remained vacant.[21] The remaining 143 MPs joined the Thinkakhao Chaovilai party, who held no seats, and the party was renamed to the People's Party on 9 August.[22][23] Additionally, Padipat also received a 10-year ban and the Fair Party dropped to one MP.[24] Phitsanulok 1st district was won by Pheu Thai candidate Jadet Jantar on September 15, defeating the People's Party who won the seat as Move Forward in 2023.[25]
On 5 October 2024, party-list and sole MP for the New Party Kritdithat Sangthanyothin was expelled from the party. The following day, New Social Power's sole MP Chao Writthit Kachornpongkitti of Nan 1st district was also expelled.[26][27] Buncha Dechjerongsirikul, party-list MP and leader of the Party of Thai Counties, left the party on October 15.[28] Preeda Boonpleng, sole MP of the Thai Teachers for People, was expelled on 21 October.[29] All four MPs joined the Kla Tham Party by the end of October, increasing Kla Tham's number of seats to four.[30] On 11 December 2024, Thamanat Prompow and his faction of 19 other MPs were expelled by the Palang Pracharath Party and officially joined Kla Tham on December 19, boosting Kla Tham to 24 seats and making it a medium size party.[31] In 2025, Kla Tham saw further defections to it. On 18 April 2025, Ekarat Changlao of Khon Kaen was expelled by Bhumjaithai amid a embezzlement scandal and joined Kla Tham.[32][33]
On 27 April 2025, Bhumjaithai lost a seat when Kla Tham candidate Kongkiat Katesombat won a by-election in Nakhon Si Thammarat 8th district after Bhumjaithai MP Mukdawan Loengseenil was disqualified for electoral fraud.[34][35]Pichet Chuamuangpan of Pheu Thai was disqualified by the Constitutional Court for misusing funds on 1 August.[36] His seat, Chiang Rai 7th district, continued to be held by Pheu Thai after Sa-nga Prommuang won the by-election on 14 September.[37] On 28 September, Bhumjaithai candidate Chintawan Traisaranakul won Sisaket 5th district from Pheu Thai following the death of MP Amornthep Sommai in June 2025.[38][39] Bhumjaithai won another seat from Pheu Thai in the by-election for Kanchanaburi 4th district on 19 October. Wisuda Vicheansil won the seat following the resignation of his father Sakda Vicheansil to join Bhumjaithai.[40] On 7 September, Pheu Thai party-list MP Noppadon Pattama resigned.[41]
The following table depicts the number of seats held by each party by time the House was dissolved.
Between the 2023 and 2026 elections, Thailand had three PMs from two parties succeed each other. Srettha Thavisin lasted 358 days but was dismissed by the Constitutional Court on 14 August 2024 over his appointment of Pichit Chuenban to his cabinet.[44][45] He was succeeded by Paetongtarn Shinawatra from Pheu Thai who was PM for little over a year but was suspended on 1 July 2025. Following a skirmish between Thai and Cambodian soldiers on 28 May 2025, a border crisis and conflict ensued between the two countries leading to a political crisis after an attempted assassination. A controversial phone call held between Paetongtarn and Hun Sen was leaked in June, leading to the withdrawal of Bhumjaithai from the coalition and her suspension as PM.[46] The Constitutional Court removed her as PM on 29 August.[47] Paetongtarn is the daughter of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra who returned to Thailand in 2023 after 15-years in exile on the same day Srettha became PM.[48] Controversially, Thaksin did not spend a complete day in prison as he was transferred to the Police General Hospital; he was later released on parole on 13 January 2024. [49] During both Srettha and Paetongtarn's premierships, Thaksin was routinely accused of being the 'power behind the throne'. On 9 September 2025, in the 14th floor case, Thaksin was sentenced to 1-year in prison by the Supreme Court.[50][51]
Following the removal of Paetongtarn, both Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai sought the support of the People's Party to back their candidates. The People's Party formally confirmed its support for Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul to become PM.[52] The agreement between the two parties was on the condition that Anutin dissolve the House within four months, Bhumjaithai must maintain a minority coalition, and must also initiate the process of amending the 2017 constitution and hold a referendum if required.[53] Acting PM Phumtham Wechayachai's attempt to dissolve the House was rejected over concerns about whether an acting PM had the powers to do so.[54] Anutin was elected PM on 5 September 5 and was formally sworn two days later.[55] In the three months prior to the early dissolution, he signed the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord on 26 October, which led to an uneasy and unstable peace agreement until military engagements and re-escalation restarted on 7 December.[56] His government was criticised for its response to online scam networks, and severe flooding in Songkhla province in the wake of Cyclone Senyar and a controversial 2025 SEA Games made negative reception.[57][58] Amid rumours of an early dissolution, the House was formally dissolved on 12 December before a vote of no-confidence by the People's Party could go through.[58][59]
Electoral system
As in the 2023 election, the electoral system will follow that of the 2021 amendment of the 2017 constitution. The 500 members of the House of Representatives are elected by parallel voting. 400 seats are elected from single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting and 100 seats by proportional representation. Voters cast separate ballots for the two sets of seats.[60]
Prime ministerial candidates
Under the 2017 Thai constitution. Prime ministers may only be chosen from a pre-declared list of candidates. Each party may submit up to three names and must have at least 5% (25 members) in the House of Representatives to receive eligibility. Candidates do not have to be a member of parliament (MP).
On 12 December, prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul submitted a draft royal decree to King Vajiralongkorn to dissolve the House of Representatives. On the same day, the Royal Gazette published a royal decree dissolving the House. A general election must be held between 45 to 60 days from the House's dissolution - setting 8 February 2026 as the latest date to hold an election.[61] On 15 December, the Election Commission announced that the general election will be held on 8 February 2026, with the official results to be announced on April 9 whereby the new House will then convene to elect a new prime minister and parliamentary speakers within 15 days.[62]
On 20 December, the Election Commission opened registration for advance voting, which will last up to 5 January 2026. On the first day of registration, 98,900 voters had already registered[65]
On 22 December, the Democrat Party officially began its election campaign with its slogan "Thailand Out of Poverty". The launch coincided with the presentation of 33 Democrat candidates to contest every Bangkok constituency.[66] Thai Sang Thai pledges to introduce three flagship anti-corruption measures if elected.[67]
On 23 December, the Kla Tham Party announced Thamanat Prompow as its sole prime ministerial candidate.[68]
On 24 December, Bhumjaithai backtracked on previous announcements by declaring Anutin as its sole candidate for prime minister.[69] The following day Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow was named as Bhumjaithai's second candidate for prime minister as a backup.[70]
On 25 December, Pheu Thai announced its list of 500 candidates to contest every House seat.[71] Anutin ruled out any coalition between Bhumjaithai and parties seeking to amend Article 112 on Lèse-majesté following statements by Natthaphong that the People's Party would never vote for Anutin to become prime minister again.[72]
On 26 December, the Democrat Party announced its three PM candidates - Abhisit Vejjajiva, Korn Chatikavanij and Karndee Leopairote - at its headquarters in Bangkok.[73] Palang Pracharath Party leader Prawit Wongsuwon announced his intention to retire from politics after withdrawing as one of the party's three prime ministerial candidates.[74] His withdrawal as a prime ministerial candidate was joined by deputy party leader Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala, who also announced his withdrawal from politics.[75]
On 28 December, representatives from 52 political parties registered their parties' list of PM and party-list candidates.[76]
Alongside the general election, voters will be asked to participate in a referendum regarding a proposed rewrite of the country's 2017 Constitution.[86]
Opinion polls
LOESS curve of the polling for the next Thai General Election.
↑Under Thai law, a member of the House of Representatives must be officially affiliated with a political party. However, if for any reason their party membership is rescinded, they can be without a party for up to thirty days. During the thirty days, they must find a new party to affiliate with or their membership of parliament will end.
↑The Lead candidate of the Party-list (#1) or PM Candidate List (#1).
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