Thailand’s opposition takes early lead in general election vote count

The junior opposition Move Forward Party was running second (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Thailand’s main opposition party took an early lead in a vote count from Sunday’s general election, touted as a pivotal chance for change nine years after incumbent prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha first came to power in a 2014 coup.

With 20% of the vote counted, Pheu Thai Party was leading with 22% in the direct race for the house of representatives, and a 21% share of seats in a separate nationwide ballot for the 100 members elected by proportional representation.