Did Liberalism Emerge and Flourish in a Conservative Stronghold? A Study of the 2023 General Election in Songkhla Province

Abstract

This research article is based on a study titled A Study of Political Movements and Voting Behavior in the 2023 General Election in Songkhla Province. The objectives are: (1) to examine the political movements and behavior of election candidates, as well as the voting behavior of eligible voters in Songkhla Province, and (2) to analyze the election results in both the constituency and party-list systems in relation to political ideologies. This study employed qualitative methods, collecting data from various sources, including document analysis, semi-structured interviews with key informants—such as election candidates and their campaign teams—and non-participant observation, which involved monitoring campaign activities, attending speeches, and observing election-day events.

The research findings revealed that Songkhla, a province historically dominated by the Democrat Party and considered highly conservative, like other southern provinces, experienced significant changes in political movements and voting behavior during the 2023 general election. The transition to a parallel election system, with separate constituency and party-list ballots, led to a shift in political dynamics. Candidates primarily focused on individual campaigns within the constituency system, while the party-list system provided voters with greater flexibility in their choices. Although Democrat Party candidates won 6 out of 9 constituencies—more than in the 2019 election—this victory was largely attributed to the personal appeal of individual candidates rather than the party’s overall popularity. This was evident from the fact that the Democrat Party did not rank first in the party-list system in any of the constituencies where its candidates won.

Regarding voters' political behavior and election participation during the campaign period, speeches by the Move Forward Party, which espouses a liberal ideology reflected in its campaign policies, attracted substantial attendance. This stands in contrast to other political parties, particularly those with conservative ideologies. Although the Move Forward Party did not secure any constituency seats, it ranked first in the party-list system in six out of the nine constituencies, even in areas where it did not field a constituency candidate. However, when the combined party-list votes of the conservative-leaning United Thai Nation Party and the Democrat Party were taken into account, they surpassed those of the Move Forward Party. Therefore, it remains difficult to conclude that liberalism has truly emerged and flourished in this traditionally conservative region.