Thailand votes in face-off between coup leader and ‘democratic front’

BANGKOK (AFP) – Polls opened Sunday for the first Thai election since a 2014 coup, with a high turnout expected among a public who received a cryptic last-minute warning from the Thai king to support “good’’ leaders to prevent ‘’chaos.’’ All television stations repeated the rare statement by King Maha Vajiralongkorn moments before polls opened across the politically turbulent country.

The long-delayed election following a 2014 coup pits a military junta chief seeking to retain power against a “democratic front” led by the populist party he ousted.

An unscheduled palace statement – released late Saturday and was repeated minutes before the polls opened – added further intrigue to an election that has repeatedly threatened to tip into chaos before a single vote was cast.

The statement reiterated comments by late king Bhumibol Adulyadej from 1969 calling for people to “support good people to govern the society and control the bad people’’ to prevent them from “creating chaos.’’

Vajiralongkorn, urged the public to “remember and be aware’’ of the remarks of his father, who died in 2016.

The junta-party, which is proposing army chief turned premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha for civilian prime minister after the polls, is under intense pressure to avoid humiliation on Sunday in what is effectively a referendum on its popularity.

Pheu Thai is expected to again sweep up the north and northeastern heartlands as it seeks to head an anti-junta coalition.

Seven million millennials are eligible to vote for the first time – many enamored by telegenic billionaire Thanathorn Joonruangrit, a politial newcomer whose anti-junta position and strong social media messaging has won his Future Forward fans.