The worst thing one can do in Thai politics is to run for office and win by a landslide. When this happens, the knives will come out and the massive election winner will be overthrown before long -- one way or another -- because the real source of power in Thailand is unelected. Such was the fate of Thaksin Shinawatra when he spearheaded the Thai Rak Thai Party to win two landslide poll victories in January 2001 and February 2005, first a near majority and later a thumping 75% of the lower house of parliament.
After ups and downs over the past two decades, Thailand has found a new political juggernaut in Chadchart Sittipunt, who was recently elected Bangkok governor by an overall majority, or more than 52% of voters. Much of how Thai politics will be shaped ahead of the next general election, which must be called by March 2023, depends on how Mr Chadchart runs the capital and how the unelected centres of power deal with him.
