Suttasitt 'Macky' Pottasak is a typical candidate of Thailand's People's Party: young, idealistic, and hardworking. He gave up a career in TV drama production in Bangkok to run in the last election, winning a rural seat near his home city of Nakhon Ratchasima from an old, established political family. He has adopted the hat and flag of Luffy, the main character in the Japanese anime series One Piece, which has featured in recent youth protests in Asia. He makes light-hearted videos about his party's policies every day, which are getting millions of views on social media.
Politics is something past generations made boring. I want to make it fun, he says. That's why I brought in Luffy and my video mini-series. We don't have money to buy votes. We are just ordinary citizens, but with a strong determination to solve the long-standing problems. I think the villagers can see that. Opinion polls suggest that much of the Thai public agrees with the People's Party, which is polling consistently ahead of their rivals as the election on Sunday draws near. Yet, winning an election is never enough in Thailand.
The last election, held less than three years ago, produced a surprise win for the progressive Move Forward party, which campaigned on promises of significant political and economic reforms. These included making the military and key businesses more accountable and reducing penalties under the controversial lese majeste law. However, powerful conservative forces, particularly the unelected senate and the constitutional court, blocked Move Forward from forming a government, leading to the party's dissolution and a ban on its leaders.
Following three tumultuous years, the reformers are making another bid for power under the name of the People's Party. Their youthful energy and ideals are drawing large crowds, with new party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut likened to a rock star.
Macky's constituency tours reveal a society grappling with economic difficulties, as local residents express concerns over poverty and a lack of sustainable employment. The People's Party's ambitious plans, focusing on constitutional reform and accountability in government, stand in stark contrast to their rivals' populist promises. Yet, as history has shown, formidable obstacles remain for the progressive factions in Thailand.
