A court has asked Thailand's PM Prayuth Chan-o-cha to suspend active duties. The PM is accused of over-staying his term limit. Chan-o-cha came to power through a military coup in 2014. Thai constitution does not allow a PM to serve for more than 8 years. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Thai court suspends Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha has been under a lot of pressure politically but there was good news for the 68-year-old on Saturday as he survived yet another no-confidence vote in the parliament. This was the fourth no-confidence vote during his tenure as Prime Minister since 2019. In the recent months, the opposition in Thailand were extremely critical of Prayuth as they blamed him for corruption and “economic mismanagement”. However, he was able to prove his majority in the parliament after getting 256 votes from a total of 477 as nine abstained from the process.

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The tenure was shrouded with controversies from the beginning as the opposition were not happy with the elections in 2019. They accused the government of tweaking the rules in order to hand Prayuth an unfair advantage after he came to power following a military coup back in 2014.

The public has also been criticising the government for a number of steps taken in the past few years and protests have become common sight on the streets of various cities across the country.

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They were also questions asked of the government regarding their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic which saw a number of deaths. Following the controversies, Prayuth faced a no-confidence vote in September 2021 as well, but he was able to retain power with 264 votes.

Following the no-confidence vote, Prayuth once again denied all the allegations levelled against his government but did not provide any clear picture about when the next elections will be held.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha has been under a lot of pressure politically but there was good news for the 68-year-old on Saturday as he survived yet another no-confidence vote in the parliament.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha has been under a lot of pressure politically but there was good news for the 68-year-old on Saturday as he survived yet another no-confidence vote in the parliament. This was the fourth no-confidence vote during his tenure as Prime Minister since 2019. In the recent months, the opposition in Thailand were extremely critical of Prayuth as they blamed him for corruption and “economic mismanagement”. However, he was able to prove his majority in the parliament after getting 256 votes from a total of 477 as nine abstained from the process. Also read | China has been a very active buyer, is stockpiling grain, says US The tenure was shrouded with controversies from the beginning as the opposition were not happy with the elections in 2019. They accused the government of tweaking the rules in order to hand Prayuth an unfair advantage after he came to power following a military coup back in 2014. The public has also been criticising the government for a number of steps taken in the past few years and protests have become common sight on the streets of various cities across the country. Also read | Ukrainian port of Odessa hit by explosions hours after Russian grain deal They were also questions asked of the government regarding their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic which saw a number of deaths. Following the controversies, Prayuth faced a no-confidence vote in September 2021 as well, but he was able to retain power with 264 votes. Following the no-confidence vote, Prayuth once again denied all the allegations levelled against his government but did not provide any clear picture about when the next elections will be held.

Thailand PM Prayuth Chan-o-cha survives fourth no-confidence vote since 2019

Several thousand people took part in Thailand's biggest protest since a 2014 coup on Saturday after authorities moved to ban a party that has rallied opposition to the government of former military ruler Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The demonstration in Bangkok, called just a day earlier by Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a 41-year-old billionaire, revived memories of the spasms of street protest that have roiled the Thai capital periodically during the past two decades of political turbulence.

But there was no sign of any attempt to block the biggest demonstration since Prayuth seized power in 2014 on promises to end such unrest.

"This is just the beginning," Thanathorn told the cheering crowd that spilled across walkways and stairways close to the MBK Centre mall, in the heart of Bangkok's shopping and business district.

Thanathorn has emerged as the most outspoken opponent of the government headed by Prayuth, 65, since an election in March that the opposition said was manipulated to favour the army.

Thailand's election panel has asked the Constitutional Court to dissolve the Future Forward party, accusing it of infringing the laws governing political parties by accepting multi-million dollar loans from Thanathorn.

Last month, the Constitutional Court disqualified Thanathorn as member of parliament for holding shares in a media company on the date his election candidacy was registered. Thanathorn disputed the ruling.

Among Saturday's crowd were some veteran "red shirt" protesters, supporters of ousted populist leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who had once clashed in Bangkok with the "yellow shirt" conservatives - hardline loyalists of the palace and army.

New generation

But the were more younger anti-government protesters, many of whom said it was their first protest.

"It's time," said office worker Pantipa Tiakhome, 30. "They have done everything to hinder democracy from flourishing."

Helped by social media, Thanathorn has struck a chord with younger Thais. Meanwhile, the army has made plain its dislike of a movement it accuses of trying to rally the young against the monarchy and the armed forces.

"Today is a show of strength so that in the future others may join us. We're just here today as a test run. Prayuth, don't be afraid yet. The real thing is next month," Thanathorn told the protest.

A party spokeswoman said more than 10,000 people had joined the demonstration. Authorities did not give an estimate.

Many gave the three-finger salute of resistance to the former junta, a symbol drawn from the film The Hunger Games.

Government opponents are also planning a "Run Against Dictatorship" for Jan. 12.

Thanathorn signed an agreement on Saturday with six parties in an opposition alliance to push for changes to the constitution that was drawn up by the junta before the election.

He also won their support for the protest.

Among those parties was Pheu Thai, linked to Thaksin, who lives in self-exile since he was overthrown in 2006. His sister was ousted as prime minister by Prayuth.

Pheu Thai won the most seats in the 500-member lower house but has adopted a quieter approach to challenging the government than Future Forward, which came third in the election.

Palang Pracharat, the pro-military party formed last year by members of the junta's cabinet, came second. Prayuth told reporters on Friday it was inappropriate to organise a demonstration towards the end of the year.

Several thousand people took part in Thailand's biggest protest since a 2014 coup on Saturday after authorities moved to ban a party that has rallied opposition to the government of former military ruler Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Several thousand people took part in Thailand's biggest protest since a 2014 coup on Saturday after authorities moved to ban a party that has rallied opposition to the government of former military ruler Prayuth Chan-ocha. The demonstration in Bangkok, called just a day earlier by Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a 41-year-old billionaire, revived memories of the spasms of street protest that have roiled the Thai capital periodically during the past two decades of political turbulence. But there was no sign of any attempt to block the biggest demonstration since Prayuth seized power in 2014 on promises to end such unrest. "This is just the beginning," Thanathorn told the cheering crowd that spilled across walkways and stairways close to the MBK Centre mall, in the heart of Bangkok's shopping and business district. Thanathorn has emerged as the most outspoken opponent of the government headed by Prayuth, 65, since an election in March that the opposition said was manipulated to favour the army. Thailand's election panel has asked the Constitutional Court to dissolve the Future Forward party, accusing it of infringing the laws governing political parties by accepting multi-million dollar loans from Thanathorn. Last month, the Constitutional Court disqualified Thanathorn as member of parliament for holding shares in a media company on the date his election candidacy was registered. Thanathorn disputed the ruling. Among Saturday's crowd were some veteran "red shirt" protesters, supporters of ousted populist leader Thaksin Shinawatra, who had once clashed in Bangkok with the "yellow shirt" conservatives - hardline loyalists of the palace and army. New generation But the were more younger anti-government protesters, many of whom said it was their first protest. "It's time," said office worker Pantipa Tiakhome, 30. "They have done everything to hinder democracy from flourishing." Helped by social media, Thanathorn has struck a chord with younger Thais. Meanwhile, the army has made plain its dislike of a movement it accuses of trying to rally the young against the monarchy and the armed forces. "Today is a show of strength so that in the future others may join us. We're just here today as a test run. Prayuth, don't be afraid yet. The real thing is next month," Thanathorn told the protest. A party spokeswoman said more than 10,000 people had joined the demonstration. Authorities did not give an estimate. Many gave the three-finger salute of resistance to the former junta, a symbol drawn from the film The Hunger Games. Government opponents are also planning a "Run Against Dictatorship" for Jan. 12. Thanathorn signed an agreement on Saturday with six parties in an opposition alliance to push for changes to the constitution that was drawn up by the junta before the election. He also won their support for the protest. Among those parties was Pheu Thai, linked to Thaksin, who lives in self-exile since he was overthrown in 2006. His sister was ousted as prime minister by Prayuth. Pheu Thai won the most seats in the 500-member lower house but has adopted a quieter approach to challenging the government than Future Forward, which came third in the election. Palang Pracharat, the pro-military party formed last year by members of the junta's cabinet, came second. Prayuth told reporters on Friday it was inappropriate to organise a demonstration towards the end of the year.

Thousands join biggest protest for years in Thai capital

Opposition&nbsp;members of&nbsp;Thailand's parliament objected on Thursday to an&nbsp;emergency&nbsp;decree&nbsp;transferring two army units to the command of&nbsp;King&nbsp;Maha Vajiralongkorn, with one politician saying it does not follow the laws of the constitutional monarchy.

The disagreement heightened tensions in the Southeast Asian country's transition from military rule, in which pro-army and royalist parties have portrayed their opponents as a threat to the monarchy.

This is the first time that lawmakers publicly challenged a legal procedure related to royal affairs.

King&nbsp;Vajiralongkorn was<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/newly-crowned-thai-king-carried-through-bangkok-in-royal-procession-216181"> crowned in May </a>as&nbsp;Thailand's fourth constitutional monarch after taking&nbsp;the throne after the death of his revered father in 2016.

A leader of the&nbsp;opposition&nbsp;Future Forward Party said the royal&nbsp;troop&nbsp;decree, which took effect on October&nbsp;1, inappropriately used an&nbsp;emergency&nbsp;provision of the constitution to bypass parliament, although it was confirmed by a majority of lawmakers on Thursday.

The decree&nbsp;transferred command of the Bangkok-based first and 11th Infantry Regiments from the military chain of command to the&nbsp;king's Royal Security Command.

Future Forward's secretary-general, Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, said there was no immediate&nbsp;emergency&nbsp;that justified the decree.

He accused Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha of continuing to act like a military junta leader.

Prayuth, who as army chief overthrew an elected government in 2014, took office as a civilian Prime Minister in July after his pro-army party won disputed elections that the&nbsp;opposition&nbsp;says were structured to ensure continued army dominance.

Future Forward, which came in third in the March elections, said the government must follow the constitution.

"Thailand is a&nbsp;kingdom with the&nbsp;king&nbsp;as a head of state, the people have the power and the&nbsp;king&nbsp;exercises that sovereignty through parliament, cabinet, and courts as specified by the constitution," Piyabutr said.

A lawmaker from the pro-establishment Democrat Party, however, defended the decree.

"Thailand is a unique&nbsp;kingdom," said Peerapan Saleerattavipak.

"The monarchy is a representation of national security so in the&nbsp;Kingdom of&nbsp;Thailand, we could not separate national security from the monarchy," he said.

A vote later confirmed the decree by 376 votes to 70 with two abstentions, according to the final tally read out by the speaker. Screens in parliament had initially given the vote tally as 366-70. All the votes against it were from Future Forward.

King&nbsp;Vajiralongkorn has moved to consolidate his personal authority since taking&nbsp;the throne in 2016.

In July 2017, the military-appointed legislative assembly amended a 1936 law to give the&nbsp;king&nbsp;full control of the Crown Property Bureau, which manages the crown's multi-billion dollar holdings.

Public criticism of the&nbsp;king&nbsp;or his family is illegal in&nbsp;Thailand, with insults to the monarchy punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Opposition members of Thailand's parliament objected on Thursday to an emergency decree transferring two army units to the command of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, with one politician saying it does not follow the laws of the constitutional monarchy.

Opposition members of Thailand's parliament objected on Thursday to an emergency decree transferring two army units to the command of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, with one politician saying it does not follow the laws of the constitutional monarchy. The disagreement heightened tensions in the Southeast Asian country's transition from military rule, in which pro-army and royalist parties have portrayed their opponents as a threat to the monarchy. This is the first time that lawmakers publicly challenged a legal procedure related to royal affairs. King Vajiralongkorn was crowned in May as Thailand's fourth constitutional monarch after taking the throne after the death of his revered father in 2016. A leader of the opposition Future Forward Party said the royal troop decree, which took effect on October 1, inappropriately used an emergency provision of the constitution to bypass parliament, although it was confirmed by a majority of lawmakers on Thursday. The decree transferred command of the Bangkok-based first and 11th Infantry Regiments from the military chain of command to the king's Royal Security Command. Future Forward's secretary-general, Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, said there was no immediate emergency that justified the decree. He accused Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha of continuing to act like a military junta leader. Prayuth, who as army chief overthrew an elected government in 2014, took office as a civilian Prime Minister in July after his pro-army party won disputed elections that the opposition says were structured to ensure continued army dominance. Future Forward, which came in third in the March elections, said the government must follow the constitution. "Thailand is a kingdom with the king as a head of state, the people have the power and the king exercises that sovereignty through parliament, cabinet, and courts as specified by the constitution," Piyabutr said. A lawmaker from the pro-establishment Democrat Party, however, defended the decree. "Thailand is a unique kingdom," said Peerapan Saleerattavipak. "The monarchy is a representation of national security so in the Kingdom of Thailand, we could not separate national security from the monarchy," he said. A vote later confirmed the decree by 376 votes to 70 with two abstentions, according to the final tally read out by the speaker. Screens in parliament had initially given the vote tally as 366-70. All the votes against it were from Future Forward. King Vajiralongkorn has moved to consolidate his personal authority since taking the throne in 2016. In July 2017, the military-appointed legislative assembly amended a 1936 law to give the king full control of the Crown Property Bureau, which manages the crown's multi-billion dollar holdings. Public criticism of the king or his family is illegal in Thailand, with insults to the monarchy punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Thai opposition protests emergency troop transfer to King

Thailand's<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thai-junta-party-takes-shock-lead-in-first-general-election-since-2014-coup-205380"> first general election since a military coup</a> five years ago was thrown into disarray on Monday as two opposition parties alleged cheating and the election commission said it could be weeks until the make-up of parliament becomes clear.

Confusion over the outcome of Sunday's election raised the spectre of a protracted struggle to form a government, spoiling hopes of a clear cut result that could have ended 15 years of political turmoil in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy.

Both the pro-army party seeking to keep coup leader Prayuth Chan-o-cha on as prime minister and the opposition party linked to self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra claimed they would command enough parliamentary seats to form a coalition government.

The pro-Thaksin Pheu Thai party said it was considering a legal challenge over what it said were poll irregularities after partial results showed Prayuth's Palang Pracharat party with an unexpected lead in the popular vote.

The strong early showing for Palang Pracharat increased the likelihood that Prayuth, who was army chief when he overthrew a Pheu Thai government in 2014, would stay in power, although that outcome was not certain.

"There are irregularities in this election that we're not comfortable with. These affect the nation's credibility and people's trust," said Sudarat Keyuraphan, candidate for prime minister of the Pheu Thai Party.

"We've voiced our concerns before for vote-buying, abuse of power, and cheating. All three have manifested. We will fight back through legal means," she told a news conference.

Thailand has been racked since 2004 by street protests of both opponents and supporters of Thaksin. Parties linked to Thaksin have won every previous election since 2001, but the populist telecoms billionaire was thrown out by the army in 2006 and a government led by his sister was ousted in 2014.

Deck stacked for military

The lower house and the upper house Senate, whose 250 members are appointed by the junta, will together select the next prime minister based on the support of a simple majority of 376 lawmakers.

That means Prayuth's party and allies have to win only 126 seats in the lower house to vote him in as prime minister, while Pheu Thai and its potential "democratic front" partners would need 376 all from the lower house to choose the next premier.

The House of Representatives, the lower house, has a total 500 seats, and on Monday the Election Commission posted the winners of the 350 seats that were contested on a first-past-the-post basis.

The, as yet, unofficial results showed Pheu Thai leading with 137 seats to 96 seats for junta leader Prayuth's party.

However, official results for the lower house's remaining 150 "party seats", which will be allocated by a complex formula involving voter turnout, will not be announced until May 9.

It might, however, be possible to roughly calculate the shares of the 150 "party seats" on Friday, when the Election Commission is due to give a breakdown of votes cast.

'Cheating'&nbsp;trends on Twitter

The strong popular vote showing by the pro-junta Palang Pracharat Party stunned voters who had hoped the poll would loosen the grip that traditional elites and the military hold on power in a country that has one of the highest measures of inequality in the world.

Many Thais took to social media to voice their suspicions about the results of an election that critics had said was systematically skewed in favour of the military from the outset because of the junta-appointed Senate's role in selecting the prime minister.

Thai-language hashtags that translated as "Election Commission screw-up" and "cheating the election" were trending on Twitter in Thailand.

Many tweets referred to inconsistencies between the numbers for voter turnout and ballots cast in some parliamentary constituencies. Some questioned the overall turnout of less than 70 per cent, which was much lower than expected.

Future Forward, a new party that appears to have made a spectacular election debut, winning 30 of the 350 constituency seats thanks to its appeal to young voters, also questioned the poll numbers.

"There are obviously some irregularities with the numbers because they don't add up. This is making people sceptical of the election results," said Future Forward spokeswoman Pannika Wanich.

"The Election Commission should address this issue because if the people feel they cannot trust the results, there will be more problems to come," she said.

A change.org petition launched a week ago to impeach the Election Commission had garnered almost 600,000 signatures by Monday evening, up from around 200,000 at the start of the day.

Thailand's first general election since a military coup five years ago was thrown into disarray on Monday as two opposition parties alleged cheating and the election commission said it could be weeks until the make-up of parliament becomes clear.

Thailand's first general election since a military coup five years ago was thrown into disarray on Monday as two opposition parties alleged cheating and the election commission said it could be weeks until the make-up of parliament becomes clear. Confusion over the outcome of Sunday's election raised the spectre of a protracted struggle to form a government, spoiling hopes of a clear cut result that could have ended 15 years of political turmoil in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy. Both the pro-army party seeking to keep coup leader Prayuth Chan-o-cha on as prime minister and the opposition party linked to self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra claimed they would command enough parliamentary seats to form a coalition government. The pro-Thaksin Pheu Thai party said it was considering a legal challenge over what it said were poll irregularities after partial results showed Prayuth's Palang Pracharat party with an unexpected lead in the popular vote. The strong early showing for Palang Pracharat increased the likelihood that Prayuth, who was army chief when he overthrew a Pheu Thai government in 2014, would stay in power, although that outcome was not certain. "There are irregularities in this election that we're not comfortable with. These affect the nation's credibility and people's trust," said Sudarat Keyuraphan, candidate for prime minister of the Pheu Thai Party. "We've voiced our concerns before for vote-buying, abuse of power, and cheating. All three have manifested. We will fight back through legal means," she told a news conference. Thailand has been racked since 2004 by street protests of both opponents and supporters of Thaksin. Parties linked to Thaksin have won every previous election since 2001, but the populist telecoms billionaire was thrown out by the army in 2006 and a government led by his sister was ousted in 2014. Deck stacked for military The lower house and the upper house Senate, whose 250 members are appointed by the junta, will together select the next prime minister based on the support of a simple majority of 376 lawmakers. That means Prayuth's party and allies have to win only 126 seats in the lower house to vote him in as prime minister, while Pheu Thai and its potential "democratic front" partners would need 376 all from the lower house to choose the next premier. The House of Representatives, the lower house, has a total 500 seats, and on Monday the Election Commission posted the winners of the 350 seats that were contested on a first-past-the-post basis. The, as yet, unofficial results showed Pheu Thai leading with 137 seats to 96 seats for junta leader Prayuth's party. However, official results for the lower house's remaining 150 "party seats", which will be allocated by a complex formula involving voter turnout, will not be announced until May 9. It might, however, be possible to roughly calculate the shares of the 150 "party seats" on Friday, when the Election Commission is due to give a breakdown of votes cast. 'Cheating' trends on Twitter The strong popular vote showing by the pro-junta Palang Pracharat Party stunned voters who had hoped the poll would loosen the grip that traditional elites and the military hold on power in a country that has one of the highest measures of inequality in the world. Many Thais took to social media to voice their suspicions about the results of an election that critics had said was systematically skewed in favour of the military from the outset because of the junta-appointed Senate's role in selecting the prime minister. Thai-language hashtags that translated as "Election Commission screw-up" and "cheating the election" were trending on Twitter in Thailand. Many tweets referred to inconsistencies between the numbers for voter turnout and ballots cast in some parliamentary constituencies. Some questioned the overall turnout of less than 70 per cent, which was much lower than expected. Future Forward, a new party that appears to have made a spectacular election debut, winning 30 of the 350 constituency seats thanks to its appeal to young voters, also questioned the poll numbers. "There are obviously some irregularities with the numbers because they don't add up. This is making people sceptical of the election results," said Future Forward spokeswoman Pannika Wanich. "The Election Commission should address this issue because if the people feel they cannot trust the results, there will be more problems to come," she said. A change.org petition launched a week ago to impeach the Election Commission had garnered almost 600,000 signatures by Monday evening, up from around 200,000 at the start of the day.

Charges of cheating amid confusion over Thailand's election result

Thai voters flocked to the polls on Sunday for the first election since a 2014 coup, and an exit poll indicated the populist party linked to exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra would win the most seats, but not enough to form a government.

The race has pitted military junta chief Prayuth Chan-o-cha seeking to retain power and stay on as prime minister against a "democratic front" led by the Pheu Thai Party loyal to Thaksin.

Thailand has been under direct military rule since then-army chief Prayuth overthrew an elected pro-Thaksin government in 2014. Former telecommunications tycoon Thaksin was thrown out by the army in 2006 and has lived in self-exile since 2008.

Unofficial results of Thailand's first general election since 2011, from the Election Commission, were not due for several hours.

However, immediately after polls closed at 5 p.m. (1000 GMT) the Thai PBS channel aired an exit poll by Thai research center Super Poll that indicated Pheu Thai would win 163 seats in the 500-seat House of Representatives.

The same exit poll indicated junta chief's Palang Pracharat would win 96 seats, the establishment Democrat Party 77 seats, the Bhumjaithai Party 59 seats and the new Future Forward Party 40 seats.

If correct, the projection would mean that Pheu Thai would not have enough votes to form a majority government in its hoped-for "democratic front" with other parties.

Prayuth's Palang Pracharat party also could not form a government on its own, but it would have a better chance to form a coalition needed to elect a prime minister due to junta-written electoral rules that favour it.

Turnout was estimated to be high as 80 per cent among the 51.4 million Thais eligible to vote, the Election Commission said about an hour before the polls closed.

Critics have said a new, junta-written electoral system gives a built-in advantage to pro-military parties and appears designed to prevent the Thaksin-linked Pheu Thai Party from returning to power.

Voters are choosing the 500-seat House of Representatives. The lower house of parliament and an upper house Senate, which is appointed entirely by the ruling junta, will select the next government.

Pro-Thaksin parties have won every election since 2001, but the past 15 years have seen crippling street protests both by his opponents and supporters that destabilised governments and hamstrung business.

Thai voters flocked to the polls on Sunday for the first election since a 2014 coup, and an exit poll indicated the populist party linked to exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra would win the most seats, but not enough to form a government.

Thai voters flocked to the polls on Sunday for the first election since a 2014 coup, and an exit poll indicated the populist party linked to exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra would win the most seats, but not enough to form a government. The race has pitted military junta chief Prayuth Chan-o-cha seeking to retain power and stay on as prime minister against a "democratic front" led by the Pheu Thai Party loyal to Thaksin. Thailand has been under direct military rule since then-army chief Prayuth overthrew an elected pro-Thaksin government in 2014. Former telecommunications tycoon Thaksin was thrown out by the army in 2006 and has lived in self-exile since 2008. Unofficial results of Thailand's first general election since 2011, from the Election Commission, were not due for several hours. However, immediately after polls closed at 5 p.m. (1000 GMT) the Thai PBS channel aired an exit poll by Thai research center Super Poll that indicated Pheu Thai would win 163 seats in the 500-seat House of Representatives. The same exit poll indicated junta chief's Palang Pracharat would win 96 seats, the establishment Democrat Party 77 seats, the Bhumjaithai Party 59 seats and the new Future Forward Party 40 seats. If correct, the projection would mean that Pheu Thai would not have enough votes to form a majority government in its hoped-for "democratic front" with other parties. Prayuth's Palang Pracharat party also could not form a government on its own, but it would have a better chance to form a coalition needed to elect a prime minister due to junta-written electoral rules that favour it. Turnout was estimated to be high as 80 per cent among the 51.4 million Thais eligible to vote, the Election Commission said about an hour before the polls closed. Critics have said a new, junta-written electoral system gives a built-in advantage to pro-military parties and appears designed to prevent the Thaksin-linked Pheu Thai Party from returning to power. Voters are choosing the 500-seat House of Representatives. The lower house of parliament and an upper house Senate, which is appointed entirely by the ruling junta, will select the next government. Pro-Thaksin parties have won every election since 2001, but the past 15 years have seen crippling street protests both by his opponents and supporters that destabilised governments and hamstrung business.

Exit poll has Thai opposition winning most seats but not enough for government

Thai political parties geared up on Friday for their largest rallies yet, two days ahead of the country's first election since a military coup nearly five years ago, but one that critics say will deny power to the most popular party.

Supporters of a pro-army party that has nominated junta leader Prayuth Chan-o-cha as its candidate for prime minister and the opposition Pheu Thai party will gather separately in Bangkok before sunset for last-gasp campaigning.

Pheu Thai, removed from power by the military in 2014, is linked to ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, a former telecommunication tycoon whose loyalists have won every general election since 2001.

Sunday's general elections have been cast as a high-stakes contest between democracy and military rule, but critics believe they have been rigged by a new army-backed constitution giving military-appointed officials a large say in the next government.

The military government says the new rules will bring stability after more than a decade of fractious, at times violent, politics.

Thailand's largest party, Pheu Thai, is leading the charge for a "democratic front" of parties against Palang Pracharat, a new military proxy party backing junta leader Prayuth Chan-o-cha.

Backers of the military have warned the country could be plunged back into political unrest if Pheu Thai returned to power.

Asked on Friday if another coup was possible after the poll, deputy junta leader Prawit Wongsuwan replied, "No, no, no."

'Vote strategically'

Pheu Thai's long-time rival, the Democrat Party, will also hold a final rally in Bangkok.

Pro-establishment and pro-business, it hopes to hold the key to power after an inconclusive election, returning its leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva, to the prime minister's office he held unelected from 2008 to 2011.

Polls indicate Pheu Thai will again be the top vote-winner, and it hopes with its allies to make up the largest bloc in the 500-seat House of Representatives.

But that may not matter, because the new constitution written by the junta allows parliament's upper house, the 250-seat Senate, to vote with the lower house to choose the prime minister - and the Senate is entirely appointed by the junta.

The magic number of seats parties or alliances need to secure to form a government is 376, or one more than half the total number in the two houses of parliament.

With the military choosing all Senate members, pro-military parties would probably need to win only 126 seats in the House of Representatives to win a majority in a combined vote.

Pheu Thai urged voters to be strategic.

"The rules in this election are designed to put the people at a disadvantage. If you don't want to give in to despair, you need to vote strategically," it said in a Facebook post early on Friday. "You need to vote for Pheu Thai for a landslide win!"

Parties and candidates are allowed to campaign until 6 p.m. (1100 GMT) on Saturday.

The next day, 93,200 polling stations will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (0100-1000 GMT) across the country.

The election commission has said unofficial results will be available three hours after the stations close on Sunday.

Thai political parties geared up on Friday for their largest rallies yet, two days ahead of the country's first election since a military coup nearly five years ago, but one that critics say will deny power to the most popular party.

Thai political parties geared up on Friday for their largest rallies yet, two days ahead of the country's first election since a military coup nearly five years ago, but one that critics say will deny power to the most popular party. Supporters of a pro-army party that has nominated junta leader Prayuth Chan-o-cha as its candidate for prime minister and the opposition Pheu Thai party will gather separately in Bangkok before sunset for last-gasp campaigning. Pheu Thai, removed from power by the military in 2014, is linked to ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, a former telecommunication tycoon whose loyalists have won every general election since 2001. Sunday's general elections have been cast as a high-stakes contest between democracy and military rule, but critics believe they have been rigged by a new army-backed constitution giving military-appointed officials a large say in the next government. The military government says the new rules will bring stability after more than a decade of fractious, at times violent, politics. Thailand's largest party, Pheu Thai, is leading the charge for a "democratic front" of parties against Palang Pracharat, a new military proxy party backing junta leader Prayuth Chan-o-cha. Backers of the military have warned the country could be plunged back into political unrest if Pheu Thai returned to power. Asked on Friday if another coup was possible after the poll, deputy junta leader Prawit Wongsuwan replied, "No, no, no." 'Vote strategically' Pheu Thai's long-time rival, the Democrat Party, will also hold a final rally in Bangkok. Pro-establishment and pro-business, it hopes to hold the key to power after an inconclusive election, returning its leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva, to the prime minister's office he held unelected from 2008 to 2011. Polls indicate Pheu Thai will again be the top vote-winner, and it hopes with its allies to make up the largest bloc in the 500-seat House of Representatives. But that may not matter, because the new constitution written by the junta allows parliament's upper house, the 250-seat Senate, to vote with the lower house to choose the prime minister - and the Senate is entirely appointed by the junta. The magic number of seats parties or alliances need to secure to form a government is 376, or one more than half the total number in the two houses of parliament. With the military choosing all Senate members, pro-military parties would probably need to win only 126 seats in the House of Representatives to win a majority in a combined vote. Pheu Thai urged voters to be strategic. "The rules in this election are designed to put the people at a disadvantage. If you don't want to give in to despair, you need to vote strategically," it said in a Facebook post early on Friday. "You need to vote for Pheu Thai for a landslide win!" Parties and candidates are allowed to campaign until 6 p.m. (1100 GMT) on Saturday. The next day, 93,200 polling stations will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (0100-1000 GMT) across the country. The election commission has said unofficial results will be available three hours after the stations close on Sunday.

Thai parties head into final battle ahead of Sunday vote