1988 Thai general election

{{Infobox legislative election

| country = Thailand

| previous_election = 1986

| next_election = March 1992

| seats_for_election = All 357 seats in the House of Representatives

| majority_seats = 179

| election_date = 24 July 1988

| registered = 26,658,638

| turnout = 63.56% ({{increase}} 2.13pp)

| party1 = Thai Nation Party | leader1 = Chatichai Choonhavan | percentage1 = 19.29 | seats1 = 87 | last_election1 = 63

| party2 = Social Action Party | leader2 = Siddhi Savetsila | percentage2 = 11.79 | seats2 = 54 | last_election2 = 51

| party3 = Democrat Party (Thailand) | leader3 = Bhichai Rattakul | percentage3 = 11.29 | seats3 = 48 | last_election3 = 100

| party4 = Ruam Thai | leader4 = Narong Wongwan | percentage4 = 10.11 | seats4 = 34 | last_election4 = 19

| party5 = Palang Dharma Party | leader5 = Chamlong Srimuang | percentage5 = 9.09 | seats5 = 14 | last_election5 = New

| party6 = Thai People Party | leader6 = Arthit Kamlang-ek | percentage6 = 7.97 | seats6 = 17 | last_election6 = 1

| party7 = Rak Thai | leader7 = {{ill|Chalermphan Srivikorn|th|เฉลิมพันธ์ ศรีวิกรม์}} | percentage7 = 6.22 | seats7 = 19 | last_election7 = 0

| party8 = Thai Citizen Party | leader8 = Samak Sundaravej | percentage8 = 6.12 | seats8 = 31 | last_election8 = 24

| party9 = People Party (Thailand) | leader9 = Tianchai Sirisampan | percentage9 = 5.92 | seats9 = 21 | last_election9 = 18

| party10 = {{nowrap|Community Action}} | leader10 = Boonchu Rojanastien | percentage10 = 2.86 | seats10 = 9 | last_election10 = 15

| party11 = Progress Party (Thailand, 1983) | leader11 = Uthai Pimjaichon | percentage11 = 2.82 | seats11 = 8 | last_election11 = 9

| party12 = United Democrat Party | leader12 = Phon Ruengprasertwit | percentage12 = 2.05 | seats12 = 6 | last_election12 = 38

| party13 = Liberal Party (Thailand) | leader13 = Narong Kittikachorn | percentage13 = 1.75 | seats13 = 3 | last_election13 = 1

| party14 = Mass Party | leader14 = Chalerm Yubamrung | percentage14 = 1.58 | seats14 = 5 | last_election14 = 3

| party15 = Social Democratic Force | leader15 = {{nowrap|Chatchawan Chomphudang}} | percentage15 = 0.69 | seats15 = 1 | last_election15 = New

| title = Prime Minister

| before_election = Prem Tinsulanonda

| before_party = Independent politician

| after_election = Chatichai Choonhavan

| after_party = Thai Nation Party

}}

General elections were held in Thailand on 24 July 1988. The Thai Nation Party emerged as the largest party, winning 87 of the 357 seats. Voter turnout was 64%.Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p286 {{ISBN|0-19-924959-8}}

Leaders of the top five elected political parties, consisting of the Thai Nation Party, the Social Action Party, the Democrat Party, the Ruam Thai Party and the Thai Citizen Party, discussed forming a government. All agreed that General Prem Tinsulanonda, the incumbent prime minister, should continue in office, and met with him his residence at Ban Si Sao Thewet on the evening of 27 July. However, Tinsulanonda refused to serve as prime minister for a fourth term, saying eight years and five months as Prime Minister was enough. Chatichai Choonhavan of the Thai Nation Party subsequently became Prime Minister on 4 August, appointing his cabinet on 9 August. Tinsulanonda was appointed as a Privy Councilor on 23 August.