The people of Bangkok elected by a large majority an independent politician linked to the opposition to the military government as governor of the Thai capital, according to results published on Monday.
Opinion polls had already predicted a victory for Chadchart Sittipunt, but the politician exceeded expectations. obtaining almost 52% of almost 2.7 million votes in the elections on Sundayaccording to practically complete results, but not yet certified.
In the first opportunity in nine years to elect a governor, just under 61% of Bangkok residents went to the polls, in an election in which 31 candidates competed.
Chadchart, 55, is seen by supporters and opponents alike as a representative of the Pheu Thai party, the main opposition group in parliament. He was transport minister in the Pheu Thai government from 2012 to 2014, and was one of the party’s prime ministerial candidates in the 2019 general election.
“Now that we have received an order from the people, I will start work immediately, visiting communities and areas to see where I can start my work as soon as possible as governor,” Chadchart told reporters on Monday.
“I have a young and energetic team that is eager to perform.added the new governor.
Aswin Kwanmuang, a retired police officer and former governor of Bangkok, came in fifth place with around 8% of the vote, despite having the support of the ruling Palang Pracharath party.
Asawin, 71, was appointed governor of Bangkok in 2016 by Prayuth Chan-ocha, who as army commander seized power in a 2014 military coup and ousted the previous governor over corruption allegations.
Prayuth returned to the post of prime minister after the 2019 elections, in a coalition government led by Palang Pracharath and backed by the army.
Prayuth, who has been accused of failing to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, will soon face a no-confidence motion in Parliament. Even if he survives, there should be a general election early next year.
Political science professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University noted before the vote that this was the first major election since the 2014 coup.
“People are hungry for opinions,” the academic said in an email to the Associated Press.
While the election results in Bangkok are disappointing for Prayuth and the ruling party, voters in the capital do not necessarily reflect national trends in Thailand, whose electorate is largely rural.
The Palang Pracharath party managed to mobilize many rural voters in the 2019 elections with the help of influential local and provincial political bosses.
Source: Observadora
