Voters in Thailand have signalled their rejection of about 10 years of military-aligned rule as election results on Monday showed backing for two pro-democracy opposition parties.
Thais went to the polls in large numbers on Sunday, with the highest number of votes secured by the Move Forward Party, led by charismatic Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, who wants to reform Thailand's strict royal insult laws.
The progressive party had an almost clean sweep of the capital, Bangkok, followed closely by the populist Pheu Thai party, which had been the dominant force in every Thai election this century.
The election positioned a young generation seeking change against the conservative elite led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.
“I feel like my country has [hope] for the future,” Beam, 29, a personal assistant in Bangkok who voted for the MFP and took part in the 2020 protests, told AFP on Monday.
“People have really opened their eyes.”
But in a kingdom where coups and court orders have often trumped the ballot box, she said she feared the result may yet be thwarted.
With ballots counted from 99 per cent of polling stations, Election Commission data showed MFP with 14 million ballots in the popular vote, followed by Pheu Thai with 10.6 million.
The United Thai Nation party, led by Mr Prayuth — the former army chief who seized power in a 2014 coup — was a distant third with 4.6 million.
While not declaring victory, Mr Limjaroenrat said late on Sunday that a coalition deal was “definitely on the cards”.
But in a sign of the potential flashpoints ahead, he repeated a promise to reform the lese majeste law that invokes harsh prison terms for insulting the monarchy.
This was an issue once deemed untouchable in Thai politics, and which rival opposition party Pheu Thai shied from during the campaign.
“No matter what, we will push for royal lese majeste law reform,” Mr Limjaroenrat said on Sunday.
Pheu Thai
Pheu Thai, which has been the most popular party for two decades, had been hoping for a landslide win that would allow it to lead a coalition.
Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of party patriarch and exiled billionaire Thaksin, congratulated the MFP and signalled a willingness to co-operate in a potential future government.
“We can work together,” she said.
Despite their success, the MFP and Pheu Thai still face many hurdles to secure power due to a junta-written 2017 constitution.
The new prime minister will be chosen jointly by the 500 elected MPs in the lower house, plus 250 senate members appointed by Mr Prayuth's junta.
This stacks the deck in the army's favour.
Adding to the uncertainty, rumours are already swirling that the MFP could be dissolved by court order — the same fate that befell its predecessor, the Future Forward Party, after it performed unexpectedly well at the 2019 elections.
The Election Commission is not expected to officially confirm the final number of seats won by each party for several weeks.
However, early on Monday, it forecast that the MFP and Pheu Thai would each win 112 out of a total of 400 constituency seats.
The MFP would then stand to secure a greater number of the remaining 100 seats to be allocated to parties on a proportional basis.
This election was the first since the 2020 protest that demanded curbs on the power and spending of Thailand's king.
The demonstrations petered out as Covid-19 curbs were imposed and dozens of leaders were arrested, but their energy stoked growing support for the more radical opposition MFP.
“Younger generations these days care about their rights and they will come out to vote,” Mr Limjaroenrat told reporters as he arrived to vote on Sunday.
MFP sought millennial and Gen Z voters, who make up about half the 52 million-strong electorate, but early results indicated their inroads across all demographics.
The party swept Bangkok, capturing every district but one.
It is predicted to also take districts in the staunchly Pheu Thai northern territories — even flipping Thaksin Shinawatra's home district near northern city Chiang Mai.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Transmission: 7-speed auto
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0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Series info
Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday
ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23
T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29
Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com
Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.
Key battle - Azhar Ali v Rangana Herath Herath may not quite be as flash as Muttiah Muralitharan, his former spin-twin who ended his career by taking his 800th wicket with his final delivery in Tests. He still has a decent sense of an ending, though. He won the Abu Dhabi match for his side with 11 wickets, the last of which was his 400th in Tests. It was not the first time he has owned Pakistan, either. A quarter of all his Test victims have been Pakistani. If Pakistan are going to avoid a first ever series defeat in the UAE, Azhar, their senior batsman, needs to stand up and show the way to blunt Herath.
MATCH INFO
FA Cup fifth round
Chelsea v Manchester United, Monday, 11.30pm (UAE), BeIN Sports
