claim to be truly national in that they secured seats in all regions and Bang kok. But even for these two, their distribution of seats was skewed. For the Democrats, 45 percent were concentrated in the South Although the Party had won 17 seats in the Northeast, it was still only the fourth strongest in that region, and third in the North and Centre/East, and second in Bangkok
The second largest party, Chart Thai, was still heavily reliant on its contingent of Centre/East members, who made up 49 percent of its total numbers, with all its other seats clustered in the North and the Northeast. The third- ranking Chart Pattana showed a similar focus on the same three regions. but with its largest number of seats in the Northeast. New Aspiration displayed an even greater regional concentration, with 61 percent of its members from the Northeast, but it also achieved a presence in all other regions apart from Bangkok. Although Palang Dharma had its grip on Bangkok loosened, itdid manage to become more truly national in character, with seats in all regions. but still with a concentration on the metropolis where 49 percent of its seats were lo- cated. The smaller parties showed an even greater concentration. Sixty eight percent of Social Action's members came from the Northeast six of Solidarity's eight seats were in the Centre/East and Seritham had a Northeastern focus.
The old faces and the new. One of the gloomier predictions of the political pundits was that the same old faces would appear in the new parliament as in the old; that corruption in government would continue and that nothing would change.