Why election fairness cannot be left to the Orange camp alone

2026-02-19 - 11:33

Concerns over the handling and fairness of the 8 February 2026 snap election are serious. The majority of those now demanding accountability and resolution from the Election Commission are supporters of the People’s Party (PP), also known as the “Orange camp.” It would be wrong and unfair to leave the matter solely to the Orange camp, its supporters, or those who have declared they would vote for PP if others also have serious doubts about whether the snap election was widely fraudulent and whether voters’ secrecy was compromised through the use of barcodes, which could reveal voters’ identities and how they voted. Already, some are calling the Orange camp sore losers. Jade Donavanik, former adviser to the junta-appointed Constitution Drafting Committee (2017) and a prime ministerial candidate from the Rak Chart Party, told local media outlet PPTV earlier this week: “Players must have sportsmanship. It cannot be that if I win, no matter how wrong or immoral it is, I will still claim victory. But if others win, no matter how right or fair it is, I refuse to accept it. Losing the game doesn’t mean losing as a person — but being a sore loser who stirs up conflict will only throw the country into chaos.” This perception is partly due to the fact that the well-known figures questioning the Election Commission’s handling of the election are mostly associated with the Orange camp, such as prominent political activist Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon and Sombat Boonngam-anong, the latter having publicly declared before the election that he would vote for the People’s Party. Given the situation, it is not surprising that some people do not see a way out. Facebook user Thanet Kongchan posted yesterday: “Thai politics has become deeply toxic. It has reached a point where some people say they hate corruption — but they hate the Orange camp even more. “So they are willing to accept an election that shows signs of possible corruption, as long as it prevents the Orange camp from winning.” While it is understandable that many in the red and orange camps feel estranged from one another, and that the Pheu Thai Party is already moving to join a coalition led by the “blue” camp, the question surrounding this election is about fairness to all sides. If there has in fact been systematic fraud across multiple areas, and those responsible are neither corrected nor held accountable, that would not only be unjust — but a loss for Thailand in general. Future elections could lose credibility in the eyes of the public and the international community. Personally speaking, my view is that voters’ secrecy has been compromised through the use of barcodes. It is unclear, however, whether this was an egregious mistake or something intentional. Establishing the truth is therefore crucial for Thai society. The matter should not be left as a contest between the Orange camp and the Election Commission. This week, the Bangkok-based Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), which deployed a small observer team during the snap election, issued a statement saying it “notes with serious concern the shortcomings in public communication of the Election Commission of Thailand and reported denial of requests for recounts amid public outrage against alleged election irregularities”. ANFREL added: “While certain aspects of the process cannot now be reversed, meaningful transparency, credible review mechanisms, and openness to scrutiny remain essential to restoring confidence.” Five days earlier, ANFREL stated on its Facebook page that it “takes note of the demands for vote recounts in several areas in #Thailand. While our observers did not report tampering with vote counts at polling stations on Election Day, they did not have access to tabulation centres, which remained off-limits to media, election observers, and party agents alike.” ANFREL also called for “full transparency of election results and invites the Election Commission to release without delay comprehensive vote counts at polling station level”. Doubters allege the final results are not yet out because the figures for constituency-based MP candidates, the party list, and the charter referendum do not add up due to widespread rigging. As it stands, the EC on Wednesday ordered vote recounts and new polling in several areas nationwide, while some are petitioning various courts to halt the process. The situation, as I write these words, remains fluid. However, so far, no mass demonstration has materialised despite deep anger among supporters of the People’s Party, who believe they and their party have been cheated. They are calling for the nationwide election to be invalidated and for a new snap election to be held. The EC is not untouchable, and some commissioners in the past were sent to prison, as prominent social media influencer Nattaa Mahattana reminded her readers on Facebook this week. “In the past, there was a Constitutional Court ruling that voided a general election due to a violation of the principle of secret voting — even though some may disagree with that decision, the Court did rule that way. “In the 2 April 2006 general election, the Constitutional Court of Thailand ruled the election null and void. The decision stemmed from changes made by the Election Commission of Thailand to the layout of voting booths, requiring voters to face a wall with their backs exposed to the public. “The Court held that this arrangement allowed outsiders to potentially observe how individuals voted, violating the constitutional principle of a secret ballot. Following the ruling, not only was the election invalidated, but members of the Election Commission at the time were later prosecuted and sentenced to imprisonment.” Many observers believe the controversy is further complicated by perceptions that the winning Bhumjaithai Party is aligned with elements of Thailand’s so-called “deep state”. Whether those perceptions are fair or not, they make transparency essential. The country is now risking normalising elections that some citizens no longer trust.