Is Thailand a one-party State? If so, why?

[SebD]

Forgive my ignorance of the subject but, having visited Thailand for the past dozen years or so, with a Thai partner who lives with me in the UK and speaking a bit of the lingo whilst able to meet and converse/socialise with both Bangkokian Hi-So's and up-country folk alike, I am still a little at a loss.

I don't really know which (if either) of the current political parties are good or bad for "Thailand" as a whole (I suspect it to be neither).

But I do put my faith in the ballot box (rightly or wrongly but undoubtedly fairly).

Is it truly beyond the ken of the Yellow (right-wing) brigade to mount an election campaign to challenge the Red (left-wing) incumbents (especially given their wealth and supposed education/worldy-wiseness)?

Cuz, if they can't even manage such a campaign, given their advantages and fiscal support, why should anyone (me included) suppose they can be entrusted with governing an entire nation?

Just a thought.

Edit:

Spelling

[wym]

My impression is that the elite behind the opposition feels so entitled that pandering to the poor is beneath them

Plus of course it's very expensive. They simply feel they have the right to rule without having to bother with the bread and circuses even the most obviously pseudo democracies do in the developed world.

They honestly seem to think the Thai people should trust them to run the place without the pesky inconvenience of actually having to work through elections.

[Rooo]

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