Thais will be voting in a closely fought election that is seen as a referendum on whether it is illegal to criticise the Thai monarchy. The election could determine whether the nation will revive its once-vibrant democracy or slide further toward authoritarian rule, with royalists firmly in power
Move Forward’s Pita Limjaroenrat and Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra hope young voters wearied by inequality and coups would help wrest power from conservatives.
Thailand’s elections on May 14 are roughly pitting pro-democracy opposition parties against conservative military generals and their allies who have run the country for nearly a decade. One party surprising pollsters and lighting up social media is Move Forward, which has a platform calling for major political and economic reforms. Vijitra Duangdee reports for VOA from Bangkok. Videographer: Black Squirrel Productions