Thailand election day arrives with hope of unseating junta generals from power

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, among supporters at an election rally with Srettha Thavisin, who has said he wants to be Thailand’s next prime minister. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters

Thais voted on Sunday in an election that could lead to the defeat of the military-backed leader who has ruled the country for almost a decade.

However, a skewed election system means the shape of the new government is “very unpredictable”, say analysts, and it is not clear if pro-democracy candidates will succeed in unseating the generals.