PUBLISHED: 19 Dec 2024 at 06: 10
The Election Commission (EC ) has downplayed concerns that powerful political families may be influencing the upcoming Provincial Administrative Organization ( PAO ) chairman and council elections.
EC chairmanIttiporn Boonpracongsought to allay fears as candidacy registration begins on Thursday and runs nationwide until next Monday.
Four to five days before PAO votes, the commission normally sends investigators to regions. In order to keep things calm and buy during the elections, authorities will also build rapid-response units. These units will be based on the provincial safety assessment. If needed, officers from local police stations will meet the patrols.
Prior to and during an earlier by-election in Chumphon state, officers were given surveillance duties, and police were dispatched reinforcements from neighboring provinces.
” Maintaining get depends on the circumstances in each state. To maintain a clean political process, the EC collaborates closely with local police, according to Mr. Ittiporn.
He emphasised that preventing and addressing election scam is generally the EC’s duty, carried out through its established methods. When asked about further measures in regions where powerful people are involved in social issues, Mr. Ittiporn assured the people that the EC is prepared to deal with these issues. He continued,” Local election officials work effectively with relevant companies to run good and trouble-free votes.”
” This is always a concern for the EC”, he said.
The EC president praised the agency’s effective collaboration with provincial governors and local authorities in keeping the environment purchase.
New crime involving prominent families occurred in Prachin Buri, where Chaimet Sitsanitpong, a provincial government representative, was shot dead following an explanation with Soonthorn Vilawan, his adoptive parents and PAO president, who had earlier announced his retirement.
Mr. Soonthorn, a part of the Bhumjaithai Party and the son of former deputy minister of education Kanokwan Vilawan, has been taken into custody for questioning in connection with the firing. He is among six offenders.
Studies suggest the crime may have stemmed from a political issue, as Chaimet supported his family, Napaphat Anchasanichamon, to work for Prachin Buri PAO key under the Pheu Thai Party symbol.
Following her father’s passing, Ms. Napaphat immediately withdrew from the race, but she afterwards made the decision to run for president under the Pheu Thai Party.