Ahead of general elections scheduled for next month, Catholic bishops in Thailand have urged all citizens to elect worthy candidates.
“Let this election be proof of our love for God and our neighbors,” said Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana of Bangkok, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand, in a pastoral letter dated Jan. 27. “We pray for God’s blessing and wisdom for all citizens to choose leaders with strong morals and creative public policies.”
As the Feb. 8 elections approach, the Catholic Church in Thailand said it wants to support society.
“While the Church remains strictly independent from any political party, all have a responsibility to act as a moral mission and a social conscience to ensure that this election follows the path of truth and justice,” the prelate said.
The Church calls Christians to see voting as a personal moral duty for the common good by actively participating in the election and casting a vote for candidates who best represent these values.
Christians comprise less than 1% of Thailand’s population of 66 million.
Echoing the Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 2240), Arpondratana reminded all of their duty, saying: “Citizens have a duty to contribute to society through taxes, national defense, and the exercise of their right to vote.”
Neglecting this responsibility, he said, is to “fail in our responsibility toward the common good. This duty does not end at the ballot box; it includes monitoring and protecting moral truths throughout every stage of the political process.”
“We also recognize that abstaining from voting is an option, but only when all candidates are morally unacceptable,” he said.
A healthy democracy is more than just a set of rules, the archbishop said. It must be built on core human values — specifically human dignity, human rights, and the common good. Without these moral foundations, a democracy can easily turn into a hidden tyranny that oppresses its people.
The Church encourages all to cast their vote for candidates who respect the value and dignity of every person and who prioritize the common good over personal gain.
“Look for leaders who value local citizens, allow communities to participate in decision-making, and possess a spirit of sacrifice,” Arpondratana said. “A true leader focuses on the well-being of others, especially the poor and the vulnerable.”
Citizens have the right to choose capable leaders who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain. Leadership should not be considered the ownership of power; instead, power must be exercised as a service.
“The Church issues a strong warning to politicians and government officials regarding integrity,” Arpondratana said.
Citizens need to be vigilant about fraudulent practices that can undermine the integrity and fairness of elections, he said.
“Buying or selling votes, or any act of cheating, is the start of corruption that destroys the structure of society,” he said. “Political corruption is a betrayal of the people and a serious violation of social justice.”
“We join together in prayer for those who will be elected, that they may lead our nation toward true peace and fraternity,” Arpondratana added.
History of political instability
In 2025, the U.S.-based think tank Freedom House changed Thailand’s rating from “Partly Free” to “Not Free.” The organization took this action because the main opposition party was dissolved and activists, refugees, and asylum seekers were forcibly returned to places where they were reportedly mistreated.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with a history of political instability, marked by military coups and weak civilian governments.
Rights organizations have described the nation as a “flawed democracy” because the monarchy, the military, and the judiciary hold excessive authority, even though elections are held regularly.
The Feb. 8 polls come after years of political instability, including the dissolution of opposition parties, the formation of new alliances, and the collapse of the government in 2025.
Students spearheaded a significant anti-monarchy movement, bringing substantial changes to the political landscape. The Future Forward Party emerged from this movement, followed by the Move Forward Party.
The Move Forward Party secured the majority of seats in the lower house during the 2023 national election, but the Senate, composed of pro-military and pro-royalist members, prevented the party from forming a government.
Eventually, the Constitutional Court dissolved the Move Forward Party in August 2024 for violating election laws. In 2020, the court had also dissolved the party’s predecessor, the Future Forward Party.
These decisions resulted in the unexpected coming together of pro-royalist factions and the Pheu Thai Party, which formed a government in 2023.
The Thai-Cambodian conflict, which began in July 2025, was the primary reason for the disintegration of that government. Following a scandal involving a leaked phone call, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party was removed from her position by the Constitutional Court in August 2025.
Anutin Charnvirakul, a business magnate and the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, a conservative-populist political party, was elected prime minister in September 2025.
Charnvirakul dissolved the Parliament and called for a snap election on Dec. 12, 2025.
In the aftermath of the Move Forward Party’s dissolution, politicians from that party reorganized themselves under the banner of the People’s Party. Observers believe this party may win in the coming election.
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