On March 24, more than 40 million registered Thai voters are expected to go to the polls for the country's first elections since 2011 and its first since the military takeover in 2014. Are these elections going to be free and fair?
Freedom, in the context of elections, pertains to the voters and candidates' opportunity to participate in the election without coercion or restrictions of any kind. Fairness, on the other hand, refers to impartiality in the application of the election law, constitutional provisions and other regulations. The upcoming elections face challenges on both grounds.
At the very best, certain developments — for example, cases against political parties — will one way or another affect the perception of a free and fair political environment in the country regardless of the facts or evidence.