Chonburi: Crowds are gathering to demand a recount in Constituency 1, Chonburi. A group of protesters awaiting a recount in Chonburi's District 1 are gathering to hear the Election Commission's response. They affirmed that if a recount is not carried out, they will escalate their pressure. Meanwhile, the People's Party's parliamentary candidate confirmed that the party is not behind the protesters.
According to Thai News Agency, chaos ensued after Chonburi residents searched for their ballot boxes and found them missing. They discovered the boxes packed together on a truck at the Chonburi Municipal Stadium in an unusual manner; some boxes lacked security seals, and others were missing the signatures of the polling station officials. This led to a protest demanding a recount from the provincial Election Commission. The situation escalated when the deputy secretary-general of the Election Commission stated that this was impossible due to legal restrictions. The protesters refused to disperse and the demonstration continued until this morning.
Until 10:00 AM, crowds began to gather, pressuring the seven members of the Election Commission to deliver their demands and await the results. The protesters remained volatile, demanding a recount due to several irregularities, including ballot papers found in trash cans, duplicate ballot papers signed by election officials, and several ballot boxes missing cable ties, suggesting they had been opened. The protesters vowed to remain until they receive an answer, emphasizing their desire for a transparent election. They stated they would accept a loss in a recount if necessary, but stressed that everything must be transparent and conducted according to the rules.
Mr. Worat Sirirak, a candidate for Member of Parliament in Constituency 1, Chonburi Province, representing the People's Party, arrived at the Chonburi Municipal Badminton Court to observe the situation. He confirmed that the gathering of people today was not organized, and that it originated from a local news page sharing information about a potential recount, which led to the mobilization. Upon arrival, he found evidence of irregularities. He accepted defeat but requested that the defeat be handled transparently.