Reactions of the Press and the people
The immediate press reaction was almost euphoric. The Nation's headline blazed: "Chuan leads triumph of Angels' and the Bangkok Post bannered Angels' surge ahead". The editorial headline of the former read: "A victory Thailand can be proud of. claiming that the outcome "should usher in a era of democratic development "The and the latter: people have chosen wisely. "The Thai language press was in agreement, with the headline i Siam Post blaring: "Angels beat Satan". Similar views were expressed in the eadlines of Thai Rath and the Daily News. Everything seemed to be going well for Chuan. He was popular with the people, the press, and the business community. The SET index rose 16 points, and the military leaders promised that the armed forces would not interfere in the formation of the new govern ment. In fact, some army leaders went so far as to say that Chuan was their choice for prime minister The leaders of the other "angel" parties were generous in their congratulations, and they correctly waited on the senior party to approach them regarding the formation of a coalition government Yet the plaudits were tinged with disappointment. The Bangkok Post that the "angel" vote would have been stronger but for "the patronage system and the money factor", and The Nation soberly reminded its readers that the victory had been a narrow one. It also pointed out least two previously been rampant, where vote-buying and "dark influences to those of the election returns had produced significantly different results past elections. In Chon Buri. Kamnan Poh had only managed to see elected, with the other four seats going to Solidarity candidates. The re sult, without PollWatch and Interior Ministry "interference" could well hav been a clean sweep for Chart Pattana candidates. In Samut Prakan too, the stranglehold of Chart Thai's jao phor Wattana Assavahem was broken by t successful Palang Dharma candidates, which was adjudged not to have been possible without the more intense scrutiny of the electoral process that Poll Watch and other groups provided. results normal" those two provinces, Chart Pattana with four more seats in Chon Buri, and Chart Thai with two extra seats in Samut Prakan would have been able to form a government, in coalition with other allies in the pro-military camp. Also, considering the massive effort that had been put into persuading people to vote, the number who went to the polls was not significantly higher than in previous elections. Whilst the press reported a "high turnout'' of 62.02 percent of the electorate, compared with 59.21 percent in March, this was lower than in 1986(64.43 percent) and 1988(63.56 percent Bangkok in par. ticular appeared to have been relatively unmoved by the exhortations to vote, with the percentage there, although up on the 42 percent recordedin the March elections, still languishing at 47.39 percent."