Chadchart Sittipunt emerges as decisive winner in BKK gubernatorial election gubernat

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sigmoid
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Chadchart Sittipunt emerges as decisive winner in BKK gubernatorial election gubernat

Post by sigmoid »

Chadchart Tipped to Win Bangkok Governor Race in a "Landslide"

https://prachatai.com/english/node/9837
Former transport minister Chadchart Sittipunt is slated to emerge as the decisive winner in Bangkok’s first gubernatorial election in almost a decade.

Bangkok had its last gubernatorial election in 2013. In the following year, the military seized power and suspended all location elections. The junta led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha also appointed Aswin, now 71, as the Governor of Bangkok in 2016 through a special decree. Aswin has been in power since – having served longer than most elected Governors.

Chadchart, who served as transport minister under the Yingluck Shinawatra administration from 2012 to 2013, campaigned on promises of making the city more equal, accessible and more environmentally friendly through as many as 200 policies, which he listed on his websites.

He is also known to many young voters as the familiar face of a popular internet meme, which centers around his godlike strength and superhuman feats – a Thai variant of the Chuck Norris meme.
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Hanging with Sudarat
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Re: Chadchart Sittipunt emerges as decisive winner in BKK gubernatorial election gubernat

Post by Alex »

That should make a few generals unhappy.
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Re: Chadchart Sittipunt emerges as decisive winner in BKK gubernatorial election gubernat

Post by sigmoid »

This follow-up article summarizes the implications of the results beyond the position of the Governor of Bangkok with regard to the next national election – widely anticipated to take place later this year.

How the Bangkok elections set the stage for a national showdown
https://prachatai.com/english/node/9848

Chadchart Sittipunt’s landslide victory in the gubernatorial election captured much of media attention, but the battle for the City Councilor seats may turn out to have even greater implications for national politics, observers say.

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The City Councilors were elected on the same day as the Governor. The opposition parties won a clear majority, with 19 and 14 seats out of 50 going to Pheu Thai and Move Forward parties, respectively. Coalition member Democrat Party, long thought to be Bangkok’s favorite, secured 9 seats, while the ruling Palang Pracharath Party won only 2.

To get a clearer picture of what those results imply, Prachatai English talked with a prominent political scientist with an expertise in electoral outcomes and politicians from the three major parties with the largest takeaways on 22 May.


Q: Does the outcome of the Bangkok gubernatorial elections signify public discontent with the Prayut administration?

Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee, Political scientist, Chulalongkorn University

"It’s not inaccurate to say that it does reflect a significant anti-government sentiment, because the new Governor-Elect is from the opposition faction, which insists on winning offices through election and democratic means. Three parties that oppose the government also secured more than half – 36 out of 50 – of all City Council seats. They have also formally announced their commitment to work together and support each other."


Pradermchai Boonchuaylua, Pheu Thai MP and former City Councilor

"I think we must acknowledge that voters’ decisions in choosing their City Councilors was influenced by their perception of the government. I think it really played a role. We could see that parties belonging to the coalition only won 11 seats. In my opinion, it reflects the falling popularity of the government, especially the Democrat Party. Just 7-8 years ago, the Democrats used to have a majority in the City Council. But in this election, they only got 9 seats. For me, that’s quite a low figure."


Pattraporn Kengrungruengchai, First-time City Councilor, Move Forward Party

"I think it does reflect the public’s mood toward the government, to an extent. In this past election, party ideologies mattered a lot, even in choosing the City Councilors. We may be used to the idea that City Councilors are chosen based on the candidates. But this election coincided with the gubernatorial vote, so party lines played a significant role. Look at the performance of the Palang Pracharath Party: they really took a hit in their popularity."


Ongart Klampaiboon, Democrat Party deputy chairman and former City Councilor

"Speaking from my 30-year experience in politics, when it comes to Bangkok local elections, many Bangkokians by nature tend to vote for candidates who do not belong to the ruling parties at the time. This was the case for former Governors like Apirak Kosayodhin and Sukhumbhand Paribatra. Both of them won elections back then because they were from opposition parties.

"This practice coincides with another phenomenon - the desire many voters have to express their opposition to the current government. This is my personal opinion but this sentiment certainly played a part – but probably not entirely. I think many voters also chose opposition candidates because of their trust in individual candidates, their policies, and other factors."
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