Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva urged university students on Wednesday to use social media to express their political ideals and opinions if they want to help foster change after the March election.
"You will be first-time voters in the upcoming election and you are enthusiastic about using social media networks in your daily lives. So you are duty-bound to express your political opinions, and what you do and do not like, if you want to create the change you hope for,'' he said.
While in previous elections young Thais were considered largely apathetic, this time round pundits say they are more politicised. The Election Commission (EC) said there will be around 7 million voters who have not had the chance to cast their ballots before.
Mr Abhisit, a former prime minister, made the remarks during a lecture on "Thai Youth and the Future of Thailand" to about 500 students at Thammasat University.
"If people make their discontent about any perceived political wrongdoing known to society, I believe it will be heard and things will eventually change,'' he said.
Mr Abhisit said social media networks could be deployed as useful tools both before and after the election to keep the public informed of any irregularities.
He also questioned the legitimacy of the poll, especially Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's discretionary power, as leader of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), to exercise Section 44 of the 2017 interim charter to suspend any actions or activities suspected of obstructing Thailand's advancement.
Mr Abhisit also took issue with the NCPO's 20-year national strategic plan, which indirectly gives it indirect control over the next government.
"A truly successful election is a free and fair election, but with the abusive use of Section 44, the 20-year national strategic plan and many other things, can we really believe the upcoming poll will be legitimate? '' he asked.
'Despite these obstacles, young Thais must not lose hope but rather keep dreaming of a truly democratic society," he said. By way of illustration, he cited a student movement in 1973 that helped topple the military junta led by then-prime minister Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn.
