As Thailand prepares to hold a snap election on February 8, the numbers do not look good.
Three prime ministers in three years. A border conflict with Cambodia that cost at least $436 million, projected GDP growth of just 2 per cent, and multi-billion-dollar scam compounds flourishing metres from its border.
The stakes for Sunday's polls are high but as the ABC travelled across the country to speak to voters, what we heard was caution.
"I'm still not sure [who to vote for]. I can't decide now because all the parties are campaigning on their policies," said retired farmer Kanonengnit, who was eating lunch at Bangkok's famous Khlong Lat Mayom floating market.
Hat Yai resident Chanchai?Saeung is also still choosing among candidates and "will decide at the last minute".
"In my opinion, politicians?don't care about what people think. They do everything to hold onto power.
"They keep promising things they can't do. They made promises and we had hope, but they couldn't do what they said."
Once bitten, twice shy
This cynicism is not surprising given the bitter experience voters have had with their country's fledgling democracy.
In the last quarter of a century, only one elected government has managed to complete a full four-year term.
The rest have been toppled by military coups backed by conservative elites, or dissolved by the Constitutional Court, also stacked with conservative elites.
During the last election in 2023, Thai voters had finally had enough.
They turned out in record numbers to deliver a powerful rebuke to the conservative establishment by electing the progressive Move Forward Party, which promised to clip the military's power and reform laws criminalising criticism of the monarchy after a number of people were jailed under the lèse-majesté law.
What happened next was stomach-churning for the 14 million people who had thrown their support behind Move Forward.
Despite winning the greatest number of seats in the House of Representatives, Thailand's military-appointed Senate refused to approve the party's leader as prime minister.
The Constitutional Court then simply dissolved the party.
"The result of the election and the forming of the government, this should align in a normal democracy," said Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the co-founder of the Move Forward Party.
"People were sad that the party they elected won the election, but we couldn't form the government."
'They are trying every way to stop us'
This was not the first time the billionaire businessman had tussled with the establishment.
His first political party, Future Forward, was also dissolved by the court in 2020 for violating election laws.
Critics, and Thanathorn, maintain that the case was politically motivated.
"In the last eight years, many of us have been banned from politics," Thanathorn told the ABC while helping local candidates campaign in the southern city of Hat Yai.
"In my case, I've been banned from politics for 10 years.
"They are trying every way they can to stop us.
"They're afraid that the change we would bring to this country would stop the current system from benefiting the establishment."
In this election, Thanathorn's Move Forward has resurrected itself as the People's Party and has consistently led in opinion polls.
But even before a single vote has been cast, dark clouds are gathering over them.
Forty-four of its party members have long- or even life-term bans from contesting in elections.
In Hat Yai, first-time candidate Supat Hasuwannakit is facing a similar fate.
After working as a public health official for more than 30 years, and becoming increasingly frustrated by poor policy and government inefficiency, Dr Supat decided to resign and contest these elections under the People's Party banner.
"I realised that if I truly wanted to change the system for the better, then I must step into the role of a representative," he told the ABC while handing out campaign leaflets with his wife and son in Hat Yai.
"That's why I made the decision to run for Member of Parliament in this election."
But two weeks before polling day, a sub-committee under the Health Ministry found that he had engaged in corrupt practices while purchasing COVID-19 test kits in 2021.
The case stems from Dr Supat placing five separate orders for test kits instead of one large order as required by regulation.
The Health Ministry did not respond to the ABC's queries about the case, but Dr Supat said that during the height of the pandemic he did not know how many COVID test kits he would need so he ordered them in smaller batches.
He bought them at a cheaper rate than the ministry to help hospitals in Bangkok that were overflowing with sick patients.
Dr Supat said that he is appealing the decision. If it is not overturned, he would be disqualified from taking up his seat in parliament if he wins in the election.
"It is about destroying a political?opponent," he said.
"I knew it would be like this. There's nothing I can do."
Dr Supat is convinced that the case is not about test kits. As the director of Chana Hospital in Songkhla province, he said he was openly critical of the delays in the Thai government's procurement of the COVID vaccine, and its push to legalise marijuana.
At the time, Anutin Charnvirakul?was the health minister spearheading both initiatives.
Today, he is the prime ministerial candidate for the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, the main rival to the People's Party in this election.
Speaking to Thai media, he denied any involvement in the case against Dr Supat.
Critics say the progressive party is responsible for its own woes after breaking election regulations and defying the constitution.
Yet, as the political manoeuvring speeds up before this critical vote, the biggest hurdle the People's Party faces may not be its conservative foes.
It could be the cynicism of their own supporters.
"I think at stake here is the future of democracy," party co-founder Thanathorn told the ABC.
"Do not surrender. It's time for this country to change. Work with us."
