Some 600,000 first-time voters decisive factor in Bangkok governor election: Academic

SOME 600,000 FIRST-TIME voters of Bangkok could probably become a decisive factor in next month’s gubernatorial election, forecast a university academic today (Apr. 3).

According to Chulalongkorn University political scientist Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee, those first-time voters, all being Bangkok’s Gen X and Gen Y youngsters, would undoubtedly make a decision in an opposite direction to that made by the senior Baby Boomers generation when it comes to the election for Bangkok governor scheduled for May 22.

Of a total of about 4.5 million Bangkokians given the right to vote, the first-time voters account for some 600,000.  

Siripan said the old-generation voters are inclined to be politically conservative and pro-military would vote for former Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang who is running for the top city post as a non-partisan candidate or former King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang rector Suchatvee Suwansawat who is contesting under the banners of Democrat Party, among others.

Siripan commented that those who may have voted for Palang Pracharath Party candidates in the 2019 election for MPs of Bangkok are believed to pick the former Bangkok governor who recently resigned only to vie for the top city post which he has already assumed for over five years.

It remains to be seen how Suchatvee, the Democrat candidate, will fare in the gubernatorial race, given the fact that some 400,000 registered Democrat Party members throughout the capital could not make an MP out of all the coalition party’s contestants in the previous election for Bangkok MPs, she said.

Meanwhile, the Chulalongkorn academic said the young-generation voters most of whom are known to be progressively challenging and anti-military would pick former transport minister Chadchart Sittipunt who is running as a non-partisan contestant or former MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn who is contesting under the tickets of Move Forward Party, among others.

Chadchart had been earlier speculated to run for Bangkok governor under the tickets of Pheu Thai Party but finally opted out as a non-partisan candidate.

The May 22 voter turnout among the Bangkokians is expected to be fairly higher than that in the 2013 gubernatorial election or in the previous election for Bangkok MPs, she said.

CAPTIONS:

Former transport minister Chadchart Sittipunt, above, and former MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, below, are popular with Bangkok’s generations X and Y. Top photo: Sanook.com, below: INN News

Home Page: Bangkok City Hall and the election commission’s logo beneath the Thai flag. Photo: Matichon

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