Military-Backed Party Takes Lead in Thailand’s Election

Thai soldiers walk past Muslim students while checking security at a classroom in Pattani Province, southern Thailand. Fourteen government teachers have been killed this year by suspected Muslim insurgents. Pornchai Kittiwongsakul/Getty Images

BANGKOK—A military-backed party has taken the lead in Thailand’s first election since a 2014 coup, preliminary results showed March 24, suggesting junta leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha could stay in power.

With 92 percent of votes counted, the Palang Pracharat party was first with 7.5 million votes, according to the country’s Election Commission. Its vote total falls short of the numbers required for an outright majority in parliament. Pheu Thai, which was the governing party ousted by the coup, was next with 7 million votes.