Political parties in the country have registered their candidates for the next prime minister, marking the unofficial start of campaigning for the Feb 8 general election. The election is seen as primarily pitting Anutin’s conservative party against the progressive People’s Party, which under a different name and leadership won the highest number of House seats in the 2023 election. The populist Pheu Thai Party, backed by billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, is another major contender. However, the People’s Party at the same time insisted on acting as an opposition party. The Pheu Thai party is fielding 46-year-old Yodchanan Wongsawat as its main candidate for prime minister.
