Irish Examiner view: People power

Thai elections

Leader of Move Forward Party Pita Limjaroenrat shakes hand with a supporter as he leaves from Move Forward Party headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand. Picture: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

The apparent rejection of military rule by the Thai electorate at the weekend potentially marks a new era, but nothing is a given in this traditionally conservative country.

Following voter turnout of 39m people, or 75% of registered voters, the results indicate that the people of Thailand overwhelmingly sought an end to years of military rule by casting ballots in favour of two opposition parties which have pledged to curtail the power of conservative institutions.