Who is the New Democracy Party and why did it secure one party-list seat in the 2026 election? Explore the party's strategy that allowed it to outmaneuver major parties with sophisticated tactics.
The New Democracy Party is considered a "small but powerful" party that has added color to Thailand's political history for a long time. Although it is not a large party with a full house of MPs, its ability to consistently win party-list seats in almost every election has drawn continuous attention, especially in the 2026 election, where it maintained its standard by winning one seat.
A deep dive into the party's origins and the reasons why it frequently "reserves seats" in parliament.
The New Democracy Party was founded in 2011 with Mr. Suratin Pichan as its leader and key figure. The party’s main policies focus on helping farmers, managing agricultural land, and providing grassroots welfare.
The party has a solid support base among community networks and farmers in certain areas. Despite lacking the large campaign budgets of bigger parties, it uses grassroots outreach such as door-to-door canvassing and building networks of small community leaders.
Why does it "frequently" and "consistently" win party-list seats?
Many may wonder why a party with almost no constituency MPs regularly secures party-list seats. The main reasons lie in the following strategies:
The New Democracy Party specializes in fielding candidates spread across many constituencies. Even though it does not expect to win in these areas, the votes earned (hundreds or thousands per district) add up nationally (across 400 districts) to reach the "minimum threshold" needed to calculate party-list MPs.
The word "Democracy" is familiar and positively received by many voters, especially those undecided about major parties or seeking an "alternative" choice. Having a party name that reflects fundamental ideals helps attract votes from those wanting to try a change of atmosphere.
Whether the "mixed-member proportional" system (2019) or the "two-ballot" system (2023 and 2026), the New Democracy Party often benefits as one of the top small parties in popularity. When votes are rounded or allocated proportionally among 100 seats, this party typically secures the last seat allocated.
In the election held on 8 February 2026, where unofficial results showed the Bhumjaithai Party rising to first place, the New Democracy Party under Mr. Suratin maintained its standard of holding "one seat."
Popularity: The party continues to receive votes from its loyal base who trust its leadership.
Political stance: After the election, Mr. Suratin declared support for Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister immediately, reflecting the role of small parties as "kingmakers" in forming the conservative-nationalist government that won this round.