Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit commands a youthful urban following that lends his party credibility in a long-awaited election this month.
By Shibani Mahtani Shibani Mahtani Reporter covering Southeast Asia Email Bio Follow March 19 at 1:00 AM BANGKOK — There are many descriptors associated with Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. He is a politician, a progressive, a suave billionaire and an ultramarathoner who has competed in races in the Gobi and Sahara deserts and the Arctic Circle.
“There’s no hope left in this country. We’ve been in this political conflict since 2006,” he said in an interview last month. “If you want to end this political polarization, you need a new force that’s not in one of the two camps.” Thanathorn’s popularity appears to have rattled the ruling junta, which is making a bid to extend its grip on power and keep the current prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, in office. The Future Forward Party has taken direct aim at the military government, and Thanathorn says his mission is to “stop the continuation of the junta’s regime.”
Prosecutors say they will probably make a decision on the charges against Thanathorn two days after the election. If found guilty, he will be jailed.
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