Anutin’s ascent: how ‘the new face of Thailand’s elite’ took control

In Thailand, elections do not necessarily decide who governs. Over the past few weeks, that paradox has played out once more, with a prime minister ousted, the country’s best-known political dynasty sidelined and a new leader taking the reins.

For young Thai activist Aitarnik Chitwiset, the endless chaos feels like it has no off-ramp.

“I’m disillusioned and exhausted by our politics,” she told This Week in Asia.

At just 28, Aitarnik is deeply invested in her country’s future. But like many young Thais who yearn for more democracy, she feels drained by a conservative establishment that clings to power, rarely loosening its grip, even when voters demand change.

A former communications specialist for Thailand’s youth-led pro-democracy movement, she once rode the wave of hope that drove millions to the polls in 2023. That excitement has since fizzled out, however, leaving the same conservative figures in power once again.

“The left feels fractured, each faction chasing its own priorities. Some place equal rights above all else, others champion environmental justice, while democracy itself sometimes feels secondary,” said Aitarnik, who is now on the organising committee of Thailand Pride.

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