Sophon Saram of the Bhumjaithai Party was elected Speaker of Thailand’s House of Representatives on Sunday after defeating People’s Party candidate Parit Wacharasindhu in a secret ballot during the first sitting of the newly elected parliament. Sophon secured 289 votes, while Parit received 123. The ballot also recorded 80 abstentions and three spoiled ballots. Get today's headlines by email The vote marked the first key decision taken by the new legislature and is viewed as an important step towards the formation of the next government. Members of Parliament gathered for the inaugural sitting earlier in the day, where they first took their oath before proceeding to elect the Speaker. Pairoj Lohsunthorn, the most senior MP in the chamber, served as temporary presiding officer during the session. Sophon was nominated by Prasert Jantararuangtong, while People’s Party MP Pakornwut Udompipatskul nominated fellow party-list MP Parit Wacharasindhu. The competing nominations triggered a secret ballot vote among MPs to determine who would preside over the House. Before the vote began, MPs debated how ballots should be marked, with concerns raised that spelling errors could result in invalid votes if members were required to write candidates’ names. After discussion, the chamber agreed that members would instead write numbers on the ballot paper to reduce confusion. Sophon was assigned number one and Parit number two. In his address to the chamber, Sophon said parliament should draw on past experience while embracing modern tools to improve legislative work. He emphasised the need to strengthen scrutiny of laws and move more quickly to amend or scrap outdated legislation. Sophon also urged MPs to focus less on rhetoric and more on producing practical results for the public. Parit framed the contest as a decision about the direction parliament should take over the next four years. He called for greater use of technology, increased transparency over MPs’ work and voting records, and tighter scrutiny of government spending. Parit also said the next Speaker should defend public power from political interference and help ensure future elections remain free, fair and transparent. Sophon’s victory highlighted the strength of the Bhumjaithai-led bloc within the House of Representatives. The outcome is expected to influence negotiations as political parties move towards forming the next government. The Nation reported that the newly elected Speaker will preside over parliamentary sessions and help steer legislative procedures in the coming term. The result of the vote is also likely to shape the balance of power as parties continue discussions over government formation. Pictures courtesy of The Nation Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 16 Mar 2026
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