Thailand’s recent elections produced a shock result. A popular progressive party called Move Forward won the most seats. But the leader of the government has not yet been named as the country moves through its procedures for verifying the election results.

If the head of the party, Pita Limjaroenrat, is successful, it will mean civilian rule for the first time in over a decade. But the path to that role is far from smooth. There are many challenges as military coups and court rulings have cut many previous political careers short.

Contributors:
Professor Tamara Loos, Chair of the history department at Cornell University
Professor Duncan McCargo, director of the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies at the University of Copenhagen
Soawanee Alexander, social linguist and political analyst

Presented by Charmaine Cozier
Produced by Louise Clarke
Researched by Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty
Edited by Tara McDermott
Mixed by Kelly Young

(Damnoen Saduak floating market in Bangkok, Thailand. Credit: Valletta Vittorio/ Getty Images)