After elections, hard economic test awaits ThailandBy Orathai Sriring / ReutersThai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s big surprise win in Sunday’s election and the likelihood of a strong coalition government could provide temporary relief to Thailand’s stuttering economy that has faced repeated bouts of political instability. “Thailand’s election result should help reduce political risk in the near term, but does little to change the challenging economic outlook,” Capital Economics’ senior Asia economist Gareth Leather said in a note on Monday. The election result sent Thai stocks up more than 3 percent, hitting their highest level in more than a year. “Moreover, stiffening regional competition for tourism and foreign direct investments puts the Thai economy at a crucial crossroads,” OCBC Group Research said. In his first comments since the election result, Thai Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the incoming government would convert state-promoted and approved projects, worth 480 billion baht (US$15.41 billion), into actual investment this year.

Source: Taipei Times February 10, 2026 17:21 UTC