Bangkok: The Democrat Party is gearing up to announce its Bangkok parliamentary candidates on December 22nd.
According to Thai News Agency, the party aims to secure 10 seats in the capital, with a broader nationwide launch of candidates scheduled for December 25th. This event will also see the introduction of three prime ministerial candidates. However, the party acknowledges a strategic limitation, as it will not field candidates in all 400 constituencies due to some candidates lacking necessary qualifications for local elections. The overall target for nationwide seats remains undetermined as the competitive landscape is yet to be fully defined.
Mr. Chaiwut Bannawat, Secretary-General of the Democrat Party, emphasized the importance of the upcoming unveiling of the party’s prospective parliamentary candidates. He clarified that the candidates will be officially introduced on Thursday, December 25th, pending approval from the party’s executive committee, which is set to convene next week. However, the Bangkok candidates will be introduced earlier on December 22nd since their primary voting process has already concluded. In other regions, the primary voting commenced on December 17th and will take approximately three days to complete before being submitted for approval by the candidate selection committee and the executive committee, with the process expected to conclude by December 23rd or 24th.
On the topic of the prime ministerial candidates, party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has previously mentioned that three names will be proposed to prevent future political uncertainties. Mr. Chaiwut stated that the party’s executive committee will decide on these names, with Abhisit contemplating whether the remaining two names will be party candidates for Member of Parliament or outsiders. These names are expected to be announced simultaneously with the unveiling of the party’s MP candidates.
Mr. Chaiwut also highlighted the party’s intention to field candidates in all 400 constituencies for district-based parliamentary elections, despite some candidates not meeting qualification criteria such as having voted in previous local elections. The Democrat Party aims to field candidates in as many constituencies as possible, close to the full 400.
Acknowledging the challenging nature of the election for the Democrat Party, Mr. Chaiwut reiterated the party’s commitment to honest politics, stressing the importance of integrity and justice. He warned that without a pure and fair election process, the economy, politics, and security could face significant challenges.
Regarding poll results indicating increased popularity for the Democrat Party, Mr. Chaiwut remained cautious. He likened the situation to a boxer who has yet to see their opponents, making it difficult to predict the number of MPs the party will garner. He expressed gratitude for the growing support but noted that translating this into more votes would require time and effort.
In terms of the prime ministerial candidates’ competitiveness against those from other parties, Mr. Chaiwut asserted that the Democrat Party focuses on identifying candidates most suitable for the prime ministerial role based on party policies and ideology rather than direct comparisons with opponents.
Sakoltee Phatthiyakul, deputy leader overseeing the Bangkok area, announced that the Democrat Party will introduce candidates for all 33 constituencies in Bangkok on December 22nd, with the party’s executive committee set to approve them on January 18th. He noted that 90 percent of the 150 Bangkok candidates are newcomers, reflecting a vibrant election landscape.
Mr. Sakoltee also discussed the party’s policies for Bangkok, focusing on livelihoods and public transportation, with a policy handbook to be distributed to each candidate. He emphasized the Democrat Party’s advantage over the People’s Party, citing experienced personnel like Mr. Abhisit and Mr. Korn Chatikavanij, who have held significant administrative roles.