Thailand’s liberals face a difficult election

Thailand’s young liberals gave their former leader a reception fit for a rock star as he returned to the campaign trail on Jan 25. Thousands of supporters packed the plaza at a rally outside a posh shopping centre in Bangkok, the capital. They chattered about whether Mr Pita Limjaroenrat might approach from this direction or that. When the dapper Mr Pita finally arrived, they roared.

But the liberal icon won’t be on the ballot when Thais

go to the polls

to elect a new Lower House on Feb 8. Although Mr Pita led his Move Forward party to a first-place finish at the previous election, in May 2023, he was promptly blocked from forming a government by the Senate, whose members had been appointed by the army.