Bangkok has always been tricky to contest for any aspiring governor, and the main opposition People’s Party ( PP ) is unfazed by the prospect of a tough gubernatorial race due next year.
The group claims to have home carpet edge after declaring on February 25 that it intends to contest for the state’s most coveted governorship.
In the 2023 public vote, the PP re-elected all but one of the city’s 33 seats. It was a hair aside from securing a clear blow and left perhaps its most outspoken critics stunned.
The party developed a powerful strategy that used social media to target generally young voters. According to a social resource, its election messages influenced industrial tech-savvy voters to support reforms.
But, the PP’s, and its father the Move Forward Party’s ( MFP), work of defeats in municipal operational organisation president races– except in Lamphun– have made some PP supporters despondent and fear the party’s prospects in the next general election in 2027.
The party needs to strive for a favorable “return fit” to demonstrate its relevance before the election results.
The PP is jumped at the chance to become chancellor, and Bangkok government Chadchart Sittipunt is scheduled to serve his final year in the coming season.
Nevertheless, it may not be plain sailing as validity has been lent to growing debate that Mr Chadchart is poised to get re-election, judging from his walk to show his efforts of late. One of Bangkok’s biggest produce distribution hubs, Klong Toey Market, had for years entirely occupied a pavement opposite to Lao Market, which had previously occupied it.
The road was restored and the place was given a new lease of life as a result of the market’s removal. Mr Chadchart has been basking in the site’s success, and one resource expects he could be looking to move out more short-term successes to point the popularity stakes in his behalf ahead of next week’s competition.
If Mr. Chadchart decides to run for a minute word, he would be a force to reckon with for the PP. He emphatically won the 2022 election as an independent, claiming a sizable 1, 386, 769 seats, or 52 % of the popular vote.
In contrast, the MFP’s individual candidate at the time, Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, came in a distant second, having clinched only 253, 938 seats or 9 % of the popular vote.
Nevertheless, the MFP recovered from Mr. Wiroj’s fight in Bangkok in the following year with a flood victory.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Mr. Chadchart’s candidacy for president have today pledged to support the PP, which is led by Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut.
The group insisted it does not need to control the executive branch to know how to fix the city’s myriad of issues.
Mr. Natthaphong claimed that critics only need to examine the government to realize that having power at its disposal does not maintain an effective way to enhance important national goals. He claimed that the Paetongtarn Shinawatra leadership was being hampered by internal conflicts in the alliance.
” Over the next year, we’ll remain formulating our policies for the people of Bangkok”, he said, citing PP’s so-called” 3 Genuine” strategy– real people, real situations and true places.
The party has boosted its” Hackable Bangkok 2026″ campaign by setting the stage for voters to post ideas, join forums, and even register as potential party candidates.
The PP currently has more than five potential candidates with diverse backgrounds who hold executive positions in businesses and organizations.
” Without a doubt, they have what it takes to be quality candidates…. They “are suited to managing the city,” said Mr. Natthaphong.
In the gubernatorial election, the party has pledged to dominate Bangkok.
While recognising Mr Chadchart’s hard work, Mr Natthaphong insisted the city deserves better policies and a new face to turn Bangkok around.
He also emphasized the need to address structural issues, such as Bangkok’s skewed local authority.
Nattacha Boonchaiinsawat, an MP for Bangkok and the head of the PP’s election strategy, claimed the party has focused on the pressing issue of PM2.5 microdust pollution, which is harming city residents.
Concerns have mounted that prolonged exposure to the haze would pose a severe health risk, triggering such ailments as asthma, chronic respiratory disease and heart conditions.
He claimed that the city could use a long-term solution to end the haze permanently.
” It’s time to address the root causes,” especially by creating dust-free zones. While facilities may be ready, funding remains lacking.
For the sake of clean air for the people of Bangkok and to avoid paying excessive fees, Mr. Nattacha said,” We need to prioritize this issue.”
The PP has made it clear that policies will determine the outcome of the gubernatorial election as opposed to candidates ‘ personalities.
” I believe Bangkok voters won’t vote on the basis of an individual candidate’s persona or the party he or she represents or is affiliated to, but rather the policies that work best for city residents,” Mr Nattacha said.
A reasonable compromise
Tawee: Not undermining the EC
After waiting for a week, the Department of Special Investigation ( DSI) special cases board decided on March 6 to investigate allegations related to last year’s Senate election.
However, the board, which is led by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, decided to only look into allegations of money laundering because the DSI discovered that more than 300 million baht had been used to allegedly fix votes in the election, in violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
It avoided accusations of criminal association, which sparked a backlash from a group of senators. A criminal organisation charge is a serious criminal offence classified as a threat to national security.
The DSI, which is overseen by Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, claimed that at least 20 senators were implicated in alleged money laundering connected to the election.
He claimed that nearly half of the more than 7, 000 witnesses who the agency had a list of reported irregularities during the national-level selection process. The DSI is also working with the Election Commission (EC ) to seek the removal of implicated senators– a process expected to take around three months, as the agency has been gathering evidence for some time.
We are not undermining the authority of the EC. The Justice Minister stated that while the EC is in charge of obtaining the removal of those chosen under unfair circumstances, our task is to gather evidence.
According to observers, the board’s decision offers a solution to possible authority conflicts among agencies after questions arose as to who has the jurisdiction to investigate.
However, the move suggests a carefully negotiated political agreement between the ruling Pheu Thai Party and its Bhumjaithai Party, according to the report.
The decision to limit the investigation to money laundering is demonstrated by the DS I’s investigation’s focus on the so-called “blue faction,” a group of senators linked to Bhumjaithai, as a result of the investigation’s decision to limit the investigation to money laundering.
A money laundering probe will take at least a year, and the DSI has about 3, 000 witnesses to question.
Notably, Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul and party patriarch Newin Chidchob met with ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the alleged de facto leader of the ruling party, at Thaksin’s residence before the board’s decision. They were widely believed to have covered a variety of issues, including the DS I’s ongoing investigation.
Stithorn Thananithichot, director of the Office of Innovation for Democracy at King Prajadhipok’s Institute, told the Bangkok Post that he expects about 20 senators will be ousted.
The figure, which conveniently corresponds to the number of senators on the reserve list and who are involved in the DS I’s investigation, benefits the interests of all parties involved, including the EC, which can reclaim credit and avoid criticism for not doing enough, he said.
He noted that only a few senators have close ties to Pheu Thai, and the majority of the senators on the reserve list are believed to be connected to Capt. Thamanat Prompow, the coalition’s chief adviser, and Kla Dharma Party and United Nation Party.
According to Mr Stithorn, the deal-making between Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai is far from over, with more negotiations on the horizon.
He claimed that negotiations between the two coalition partners will move toward the upcoming appointments of public independent agencies as the DSI probe is anticipated to fade into the background soon.
The analyst believes that the MotoGP Grand Prix has now entered the political fray and could become involved in political bargaining.
Reports have surfaced that the government is considering terminating the contract to host the event if it is deemed not worth the investment.
Since 2018, the race has been held at Buri Ram’s Chang International Circuit, which is home to the Bhumjaithai Party’s political center, where Mr. Newin serves as the circuit’s executive.
The next significant political flashpoint is anticipated to be section-by-section charter amendments, as Pheu Thai is particularly interested in changing ethical standards for political officeholders.
One key target is Section 160, which sets the prerequisites for ministerial candidates, requiring them to be evidently honest with a clean, criminal-free background.
Pheu Thai’s push to amend this section is widely believed to be an effort to soften the laws, especially after Srettha Thavisin was ousted as prime minister in response to his appointment of ex-convict Pichit Chuenban as minister.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the leader of Pheu Thai and prime minister, herself is the subject of a number of ethics-related complaints, including about her ownership of the contentious Alpine Golf Club, which is situated on a monastic plot. Without enough senators sympathetic to the party, some of Pheu Thai’s leading figures, including Ms Paetongtarn, could see their political futures cut short, according to observers.
Perhaps the best way to entice the senators and Bhumjaithai to show some” compassion” is to rein them in by using a particular stern strategy, they said.