Thai voters are more interested on the Prime Minister-elect’s next moves rather than the fact she is due to become the nation’s first female Prime Minister, says Charles Sturt University (CSU) political commentator and expert, Dr Troy Whitford.

 

“The Thai electorate seems more interested in political stability and economic development for their nation,” said Dr Whitford, who is currently in Thailand.

 

“The important concern now is that the new PM, Ms Yingluck Shinawatra, does not make any moves to bring her brother and former Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra back from exile. I believe the ‘average’ voter here thinks he should not be given any amnesty.”

 

Dr Whitford believes the overseas media have played up the divide between the so-called ‘red shirts’, who support Taksin, and the ‘yellow shirts’, who support the recently defeated leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Democrat Party.

 

“Seventy per cent of voters are not aligned with either group. Overseas media tend to oversimplify Thai politics – the result was mainly met by calm, like we would when changing prime ministers in Australia,” Dr Whitford said.

 

According to Dr Whitford, the result was no surprise. “An exit poll released before the vote count indicated Yingluck's party, Pheu Thai, was going to win. Surprisingly, the Democrats did everything but concede even before the polls were counted, using the exit poll as an indication of the real result,” he said.

 

“The final result should be released tonight, Monday 4 July, although there have been between five and 10 ‘red cards’ placed on some electorates, meaning they will be investigated for irregularities.”

 

In Thailand voting is compulsory, but voters can vote ‘no’ by ticking a box to indicate they do not support any candidate. About 1.2 million out of 47 million possible voters voted ‘no’.