1988 Thai general election

1988 Thai general election

24 July 1988
All 357 seats in the House of Representatives 179 seats needed for a majority
Registered	26,658,638
Turnout	63.56% ( 2.13pp)
First party Second party Third party   Leader Chatichai Choonhavan Siddhi Savetsila Bhichai Rattakul Party Chart Thai Social Action Democrat Last election 17.26%, 63 seats 12.12%, 51 seats 22.52%, 100 seats Seats won 87 54 48 Seat change 24 3 52 Popular vote 7,612,148 4,651,161 4,456,077 Percentage 19.29% 11.79% 11.29%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   RTP Leader Narong Wongwan Samak Sundaravej Tianchai Sirisampan Party Ruam Thai Thai Citizen People Last election 4.41%, 19 seats 6.94%, 24 seats 7.40%, 18 seats Seats won 34 31 21 Seat change 15 7 3 Popular vote 3,988,941 2,413,520 2,336,962 Percentage 10.11% 6.12% 5.92%   Seventh party Eighth party Ninth party   TPP Leader Chalermphan Srivikorn Arthit Kamlang-ek Chamlong Srimuang Party People's Thai People Palang Dharma Last election 0.23%, 0 seats 0.52%, 1 seats – Seats won 19 17 14 Seat change 19 16 New Popular vote 2.454.870 3,143,851 3,586,878 Percentage 6.22% 7.97% 9.09%
Prime Minister before election Prem Tinsulanonda Independent Elected Prime Minister Chatichai Choonhavan Chart Thai

General elections were held in Thailand on 24 July 1988. The Thai Nation Party emerged as the largest party, winning 87 of the 357 seats. Voter turnout was 64%.

Leaders of the top five elected political parties, consisting of the Thai Nation Party, the Social Action Party, the Democrat Party, the Ruam Thai Party and the Thai Citizen Party, discussed forming a government. All agreed that General Prem Tinsulanonda, the incumbent prime minister, should continue in office, and met with him his residence at Ban Si Sao Thewet on the evening of 27 July. However, Tinsulanonda refused to serve as prime minister for a fourth term, saying eight years and five months as Prime Minister was enough. Chatichai Choonhavan of the Thai Nation Party subsequently became Prime Minister on 4 August, appointing his cabinet on 9 August. Tinsulanonda was appointed as a Privy Councilor on 23 August.

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Thai Nation Party	7,612,148	19.29	87	+24
	Social Action Party	4,651,161	11.79	54	+3
	Democrat Party	4,456,077	11.29	48	–52
	Ruam Thai Party	3,988,941	10.11	34	+15
	Palang Dharma Party	3,586,878	9.09	14	New
	Thai People Party	3,143,851	7.97	17	+16
	People's	2,454,870	6.22	19	+19
	Thai Citizen Party	2,413,520	6.12	31	+7
	People Party	2,336,962	5.92	21	+3
	Community Action	1,127,418	2.86	9	–6
	Progress Party	1,114,468	2.82	8	–1
	United Democrat Party	810,547	2.05	6	–32
	Liberal Party	690,486	1.75	3	+2
	Mass Party	622,933	1.58	5	+2
	Social Democratic Force	273,932	0.69	1	New
	Thai Agro Industry	179,563	0.46	0	New
Total		39,463,755	100.00	357	+10
Valid votes		16,350,143	96.49
Invalid/blank votes		594,788	3.51
Total votes		16,944,931	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		26,658,638	63.56
Source: Nohlen et al.