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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015578

Bangkok governor candidates were busy wooing voters on Sunday morning as campaigning entered the final week before the May 22 election.

Former Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang pitched up at Sri Din Daeng Market in Din Daeng district to sell his policy for tackling poverty in the capital.

Aswin has been hitting the campaign trail both morning and evening ahead of next Sunday’s vote.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party candidate Suchatvee Suwansawat headed to the Sathu Pradit neighbourhood of Yan Nawa district, with plans to hit Rung Charoen Market, Nanglinchee Market and Yen Akat Village, as well the Wat Chong Lom, Khlong Khwang and Ban Lak Si areas today.

Suchatvee will then head to Siam Paragon at 5.30pm to take part in the Bangkok governor debate on Nation TV.

Elsewhere, Thai Sang Thai Party candidate Sita Divari and president Sudarat Keyuraphan are speaking at a rally at Victory Monument until 11.30am. The rally will also give representatives from various sectors – the new generation, LGBT, soft power, SMEs and workers – the chance to share ideas about Bangkok’s future, the party said.

Yesterday saw former Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit participate in a Move Forward Party campaign rally at the King Taksin monument in Thonburi.

Thanathorn said Move Forward candidate Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn’s 20 years of experience in management would enable him to tackle issues effectively as governor.

Meanwhile, independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt was promoting his 200 policies in face-to-face encounters with Bangkokians.

He said his team had arranged for him to meet resident of all 50 districts across the capital to hear their various problems.

He also publicised his policies to develop housing, give seniors access to government projects, and create a community database to provide basic welfare to citizens.

Published : May 15, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015558

Independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt remains the strong favourite to win Bangkok’s governor election on May 22, according to the latest opinion survey.

Nation Poll surveyed 3,131 Bangkokians of various ages and occupations between May 9 and 12.

Chadchart topped the poll with over 42 per cent support, while Democrat candidate Suchatvee Suwansawat was second on just over 13 per cent. Move Forward’s Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn came third, drawing support from 9.86% of those surveyed, with former governor Aswin Kwanmuang in fourth.

Asked which candidate they favoured:

• 42.64% said Chadchart Sittipunt (independent)
• 13.06% said Suchatvee Suwansawat (Democrat)
• 9.86% said Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn (Move Forward)
• 7.33% said Aswin Kwanmuang (independent)
• 6.13% said Sakoltee Phattiyakul (independent)
• 4.88% said Sita Diwari (Thai Sang Thai)
• 1.39% said Rosana Tositrakul (independent)
• 0.41% said other candidates
• 13.70% were undecided
• 0.42% said they will not vote, or vote no

Asked for the reason behind their choice of candidate:

• 20.41% said parties
• 19.76% said policies and visions
• 12.49% said achievements and experiences
• 10.11% said diligent, sincere and hard-working
• 9.96% said their candidate would change things if elected
• 7.86% wanted a new face as governor

Of those surveyed, 17.08 per cent were aged 18-27 and will be voting for the first time in a governor election. Asked which candidate they preferred:

• 47.45% said Chadchart Sittipunt
• 14.52% said Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn
• 9.75% said Suchatvee Suwansawat

Meanwhile, 23.91 per cent of respondents were aged over 61. Asked which candidate they favoured:

• 36.25% said Chadchart
• 17.25% said Suchatvee
• 9.18% said Aswin

Asked which problem the next governor should tackle first:

• 40.84% said the cost of living
• 14.48% said traffic
• 11.24% said road infrastructure (roads, pavements, zebra-crossings, signage, traffic lights)
• 8.52% said floods
• 5.30% said garbage
• 3.65% said air pollution
• 2.70% said crime
• 1.95% said housing
• 1.83% said lack of parks/green spaces
• 1.63% said street vendors

A total of 82.99 per cent confirmed they will vote while 17.07 per cent were unsure or will not vote.

The Bangkok governor and council elections will be held on May 22 from 8am to 5pm.

Published : May 14, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015496

Kla Party’s leader Korn Chatikavanij will be its prime ministerial candidate at the next general election, spokesman Sanyakorn Singhaweratham said on Thursday, denying media reports that the party would support someone from outside its nomination list to become the next PM.

The spokesman said that Korn, a former finance minister, is suitable to head the government at a time when the country is facing an economic crisis brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The country is faced with multiple economic problems for over two years — business closures, no tourists, higher fuel prices and cost of living. Those issues can be solved by creating income for the country and people,” Sanyakorn said.

“So, the government head must be an expert in economic matters who has experience in tackling an economic crisis,” he added.

The spokesman also pointed out that while serving as the finance minister, Korn was credited with leading the Thai economy out of the economic fallout from the US subprime mortgage crisis that contributed to the global financial crisis between 2007 and 2010.

“[Korn] is an expert in economic, financial and monetary matters. This skill is necessary to tackle the country’s economic issues,” the spokesman said.

“We are ready to work with any political party that shares Kla Party’s measures in tackling the economic problems,” he added.

Kla was established in June 2020, months after Korn resigned from the coalition Democrat Party in January that year. He had served as deputy party leader.

His resignation came just months after Korn lost a race to become the new Democrat leader.

While serving as the finance minister in Abhisit Vejjajiva’s Democrat-led coalition government, Korn was named “Finance Minister of the Year 2010” by the Financial Times’ The Banker magazine, which complimented him for his “financial management skills as he assumed the finance ministerial position in Thailand amid the economic stagnation”.

Published : May 12, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015484

A former secretary-general of the Judiciary Office has been disqualified as a Bangkok governor candidate because he had been fired for serious disciplinary offence, a Bangkok election official said on Thursday.

Samrarn Tanpanit, director of the Bangkok Election Office, said Sarawut Benjakul, who got candidacy No. 28, has been disqualified under Section 56 of the Local Councils and Administrations Elections Act of BE 2562 (2019).

Samrarn said the Bangkok Election Office had been informed by the Judicial Commission that Sarawut had faced a charge of abusing authority, violating Section 77 of the Judicial Commission Act of BE 2543 (2000), and was hence fired from judiciary service.

Samrarn said the Local Administrations Election Act prohibited persons who have been fired from duty for committing corruption or abusing authority from running for election.

Sarawut used to be a special adviser to the Judiciary Office before he became the secretary-general. He was also a director on several boards, including the board of directors of the Airports of Thailand Plc, the board of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and a member of the council of King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang.

Sarawut resigned as Judiciary Office secretary-general on April 3 to contest the Bangkok governor election.

On March 15, a subcommittee of the Judicial Commission recommended that he be fired from service for committing serious disciplinary offence in connection with a project to renovate the Phra Khanong Court building in 2019.

The Judicial Commission resolved on April 4 to fire Sarawut from service after affirming the decision of the subcommittee that he had committed the disciplinary offence.

Published : May 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015482

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) senior officials on Thursday launched car, boat and walk campaigns to encourage residents in nine eastern districts to come out and vote in the governor and council elections on May 22.

BMA deputy city clerk Narong Ruangsri chaired the ceremony this morning to launch the campaigns in Bang Kapi, Saphan Sung, Bueng Kum, Khan Na Yao, Lat Krabang, Minburi, Nong Chok, Klong Sam Wa and Prawet districts.

The main ceremony was held at Wat Sri Boon Ruang in Bang Kapi district while a simultaneous ceremony was carried out at the Red Mosque pier in Khan Na Yao district.

The first was a procession of vehicles that left Wat Sri Boon Ruang pier to drive through Ramkhamhaeng Road.

The second saw officials taking to the streets in a walk from Wat Sri Boon Ruang pier to the Red Mosque and nearby communities.

The third was a boat procession from Wat Sri Boon Ruang pier to Bueng Kum pier, Pasio pier and the Red Mosque pier. The boat campaign ended at Bang Chan Watergate pier. Narong and directors of the nine districts joined the boat procession.

Narong said he was assigned by the Bangkok election committee to spearhead the organisation of the elections.

According to him, voting venues have been prepared, including equipment and personnel, to make sure the elections are clean and fair.

Narong said he is also in charge of launching awareness campaigns for Bangkokians to turn up at voting centres under the theme “Your vote is crucial, come out to vote on May 22”.

The deputy city clerk said he would step up the campaigns via several means, including by vehicles, boats, house visits as well as social media.

“There are only ten days left for the elections. I would like to invite 1.048 million voters in the nine districts to take part in creating a phenomenon by coming out to vote to elect a good person as the governor and Bangkok councillors,” Narong said.

He added that the councillor elections are essential because the BMA Council will enact city regulations or local laws as well as approve budgets for various development projects to improve the quality of life of Bangkok residents.

“Please come out to vote from 8am to 5pm on May 22,” the deputy city clerk pleaded.

Published : May 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015481

Democrat Party Bangkok governor candidate Suchatvee Suwansawat promised to deal with repeated flooding in Bangkok, claiming that the capital would become inundated if the problem is not tackled immediately.

He made the remark during a campaign in Ratchathewi district on Wednesday.

Suchatvee also vowed to improve uneven pavements, allocate areas for selling goods and set up drinking water dispensers on footpaths if he is elected.

To tackle flooding during the rainy season, he said electric water pumps must be set up across Bangkok because dredging and flood control reservoirs were not enough.

He explained his plan to tackle flooding is divided into three phases:

Short term: Replace manual pumps with automatic ones along with water gates similar to those employed in other countries.

Middle term: Create flood control reservoirs underground in flood-prone areas, especially Chatuchak, Ramkhamhaeng and Sukhumvit, to mitigate the impact on residents and motorists.

Long term: Implement a plan to deal with the increasing level of saltwater in the Chao Phraya River.

“Residents in Ayutthaya have suffered from flooding for a long time,” he pointed out. “Bangkok will be inundated in the future if the problem is not solved immediately,” he warned.

Suchatvee also promised to make tap water available for all Bangkokians as residents in some areas, such as Nong Chok district, are not able to access tap water.

Published : May 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015462

On May 22, Bangkok residents will exercise their right to vote for the Thai capital’s next governor. Here are some facts about those who have a chance to become the governor of Bangkok.

Published : May 11, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015409

The Bangkok governor and council elections will be held on May 22 from 8am to 5pm. No advance or overseas voting is permitted.

To be eligible to vote, Bangkokians must:

• Be Thai nationals or have been naturalised as Thai citizens for at least five years.
• Be over 18 years old.
• Have household registration in an electoral district for at least a year.

People who have switched their house registration in the past year will have the right to vote in their previous electoral district.

Voting in Thai elections is compulsory.

People unable to visit a polling station on May 22 will retain their voting rights for seven days if they give a valid reason for not voting to the Election Commission (EC) via the websites http://www.bora.dopa.go.th and http://www.ect.go.th or the Smart Vote app.

The EC will inform applicants within three days of whether their reason is valid. Applicants have 30 days after the election in which to appeal the decision.

People who do not vote and fail to report a valid reason to the EC will be banned for two years from registering for:

• Elections for MP or senator, local administrations and local councils
• Elections for communal elder (kamnan) and village headman (phu yai baan)
• Petitions to remove local administration or local council members
• A political or parliamentary post
• A local administration post
• A local council post

Published : May 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015375

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday morning visited a farm project in Chonburi province together with the interior and labour ministers and some top permanent officials.

Prayut’s helicopter lifted off from the Second Cavalry Division in Bangkok at 7.45am and headed to the Kubota Farm in Tambon Nong Iroon of Bang Bueng district. The farm is where the Kubota tractor manufacturer demonstrates its farming machines.

Prayut was accompanied by Interior Minster Anupong Paochinda and Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin, as well as Thirapat Prayoonsit, permanent secretary for PM’s Office, Siririrk Songwilai, permanent secretary for Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Ministry, and Sutthipong Julcharoen, permanent secretary for Interior Ministry.

The entourage was welcomed by Palang Pracharath Party MPs for eastern provinces: Jongchai Wongsai (Chonburi), Ronthep Anuwat (Chonburi), Sompong Sophon (Rayong), Chaiwat Paopiamsup (Chachoengsao), and Thanapat Kittiwongsa (Chanthaburi).

The entourage was also welcomed by tambon chief and local politicians, including Kitti Paopiamsup, Chachoengsao Provincial Adminstrative Organisation president.

No politicians from the Kunplome family, who are known to have Chonburi as their stronghold, turned up to welcome Prayut.

Prayut told a group of local people and labourers who welcomed him that he was pleased to meet them.

When the people shouted: “Uncle Tu fight on”, Prayut replied: “I’ll definitely fight or else I would not have survived so long.”

Prayut said he was working for the people but some works could progress only slowly, step by step.

When some people shouted: “We love Uncle Tu”, Prayut replied: “If so, please don’t abandon me.”

Prayut also posed for photos with MPs and community leaders and local politicians.

Published : May 09, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015314

Candidates’ policies will be the key factor in determining who wins the Bangkok governor election on May 22, a poll conducted recently by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) revealed.

The poll was conducted on April 4 and 8 among 1,325 Bangkok voters from different educational and occupational backgrounds.
 
Asked what factor would separate the winner from the losers, 44.75 per cent of voters pointed to the candidates’ policies as the key determiner of the election result.

The next highest in the rankings came candidates’ qualifications or reputation (28.91%), voter bases (9.36%), supporters’ authority (6.19%), campaign strategy (6.04%), media outlets’ support (4%) and campaign budget (0.75%).

For this reason, the policies of prominent Bangkok governor candidates are being widely discussed on social media. 

Here we list some of their policies (in order of candidacy number) and how they aim to tackle the capital’s major woes:

Published : May 06, 2022

By : THE NATION