Search Results for: vote-buying
- Thailand News
Vote-buying incidents highest in Bangkok during General Elections, says EC
The Election Commission (EC) reported that the majority of vote-buying incidents during yesterday’s elections took place in Bangkok, which boasts the highest number of constituencies among all provinces. Despite this, the EC noted that the overall number of poll-related violations was lower than in previous elections. EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee disclosed that the commission received 163 complaints yesterday, with 58…
- Thailand News
Thai police keep an eye on vote-buying in competitive provinces
Thai police are keeping a vigilant eye on incidents of vote-buying today, following allegations of election law malpractices in three intensely competitive provinces. After a meeting with election officials, National Police Chief Police General Damrongsak Kittiprapas confirmed yesterday the arrest of a man in the northeast Bueng Kan province, under the suspicion of vote-buying. Evidence collected during the arrest included…
- Northern Thailand News
Thai villagers complain to Election Commission over alleged vote-buying
Thai Villagers from Non Reuang, in the district of Ban Kho in the northeast Khon Kaen province, stormed the Election Commission (EC) office with their lawyer and village headman, accusing a well-known political party’s candidate of engaging in vote-buying activities. The villagers presented video clips and witness statements to the investigative team, along with an official complaint against the alleged…
- Phuket News
Phuket politician cleared of vote-buying allegation
PHUKET: Five days after it was seized, over half a million baht has been returned to a former Phuket politician cleared of vote-buying allegations. Prasong Trairat, a former president of the Thepkrasattri Tambon Council, today went to Cherng Talay Police Station to collect 542,000 baht in assets taken from his home in Thepkrasattri by a provincial police anti-vote-buying task force.…
- Phuket News
Allegations of vote-buying under investigation
THALANG: Accusations of vote-buying in the presidential election in the Srisoonthorn Administration Organization (OrBorTor) council election on October 7 are being investigated, including a vote recount, after official complaints were filed with the Phuket Election Commission (PEC) on October 5.Kraisri Kiewwan, chief administrator (Palad) of Srisoonthorn OrBorTor, told the Gazette that on October 5 a group of Srisoonthorn residents filed…
- Thailand News
EC urges Senate candidates to behave as final voting day nears
The Election Commission (EC) issued a stern warning to Senate election candidates regarding adherence to regulations as the final phase of voting takes place today. Some 2,995 candidates, who cleared the provincial-level selection process on June 16, are competing for 200 seats at Mueang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi. The official results will be announced on July 2. EC Secretary-General Sawaeng…
- Thailand News
EC clarifies Senate election vote exchange, downplays complaints
After questions arose regarding candidate vote exchange in the Senate elections, the Election Commission (EC) no longer deems wooing or exchanging votes in the Senate election as a breach. A petition challenging the initial restrictions on candidates’ election campaigning led the Administrative Court to rule against these restrictions on May 24, resulting in their repeal. EC Secretary-General Sawang Boonme addressed…
- Thailand News
Senate approves AI regulation in election campaigns
A report advocating for the regulation of election campaigns conducted using artificial intelligence (AI) was approved by the Senate yesterday. The Senate Committee on Politics compiled the report, which was presented during a meeting chaired by Senate Speaker Pornpetch Wichitcholchai. The report primarily focused on the use of social media in politics and election canvassing. The Senate’s term will come…
- Thailand News
Supreme court weighs in on vote buying case against PPRP candidate
The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a vote buying case brought forth by the Election Commission (EC) against a candidate from the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) from Nakhon Sawan. The candidate, Pornwisit Jaemsai, is accused of vote-buying, an illegal practice that infringes the Organic Act on the Election of Members of the House of Representatives (2018). This announcement was made…
- Thailand News
Update: Meet the first female president of the Football Association of Thailand
Nualphan Lamsam clinched a resounding victory to become the new president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), leaving her competitors in the dust. The former men’s team manager secured an impressive 68 out of 73 votes, marking a significant shift in leadership at the association, as she takes over from Police General Somyot Poompunmuang following his eight-year tenure. The…
- Thailand News
Thai football in turmoil: Race for FAT presidency and financial promises revealed
The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) is set to usher in a new president, marking the conclusion of Police General Somyot Poompunmuang’s eight-year tenure as the nation’s football chief. The battle for the coveted position has seen former national men’s team manager Nualphan Lamsam emerge as the frontrunner, with the election scheduled to take place at FAT headquarters in Bangkok’s…
- Thailand News
Election Commission to recommend vote recounts amid integrity concerns
In a new development on the Thai election, the Election Commission (EC) of Thailand is taking necessary measures to ensure the fairness of the recent general election. The EC plans to recommend vote recounts in certain party list constituencies after finding unused distributed voting cards. Furthermore, the EC is working to resolve over 280 disputes that question the validity of…
- World News
Thaksin hails MFP’s social media mastery, urges generals to retire
Thailand’s former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, praised the Move Forward Party (MFP) for their recent election victory, attributing their success to their mastery of social media and user-generated content (UGC). Thaksin, who remains an influential figure in Thai politics despite his self-imposed exile, highlighted the party’s ability to gain votes organically without resorting to big-spending campaigns or vote-buying. In a…
- Thailand Election News
Huge turnout for advance voting as election nears
Yesterday, advance voting saw a large turnout across the nation, with citizens keen to exercise their democratic rights following a four-year wait. The Election Commission (EC) reported that 2,235,830 individuals registered for early voting yesterday, ahead of the May 14 election. Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt stated that the process went smoothly, with only a few minor issues emerging at polling…
- Bangkok News
Over 800,000 registered for early voting in Bangkok
Over 800,000 individuals have registered for early voting in Bangkok, and authorities are taking security seriously. Nearly 3,000 security officers deployed to maintain order, Bangkok Post reported. A deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), Pol. Maj. Gen. Jirasant Kaewsaeng-ek, stated yesterday that security measures are in place for today’s voting. A total of 1,421 polling stations have been…
- Thailand News
Thai Sang Thai Party leader promises to resolve political divisions
Sudarat Keyuraphan, the leader of the Thai Sang Thai (TST) Party, addressed voters in Chiang Rai yesterday, stating that her party is the ideal choice to resolve deeply rooted political divisions. Speaking to an audience of around 3,000 people in the northeastern province, she explained that these rifts have held the nation back for over 17 years and hindered national…
- Thailand News
Chartpattanakla Party reveals bold economic development plan for northeast Thailand
The Chartpattanakla Party recently unveiled an economic development policy aimed at boosting the economy and fostering growth in Nakhon Ratchasima and the northeastern region of Thailand. Tewan Liptapanlop, the party’s secretary-general and an MP candidate for Nakhon Ratchasima’s Constituency 1, stated that the policy, dubbed “Korat-nomics,” would assist in transforming the region into a new economic corridor. Liptapanlop emphasised that…
- Politics News
‘No roses on Valentine’s Day!’ Bangkok election commission advises candidates
It turns out roses on Valentine’s Day aren’t a good idea for everyone. The director of the Election Commission’s Bangkok branch yesterday advised candidates in the upcoming general election on May 7 not to hand out roses on Valentine’s Day. The director, Samran Tanpanit, said that roses handed out on such special occasions could be considered by authorities as a…
- Thailand Election News
Speaker predicts mass election corruption
Thailand’s House Speaker Chuan Leekpai warned that the country can expect to see mass corruption in the upcoming general election. He said on Sunday that money will be a powerful influence in this year’s election and vote-buying will be rampant. To support his claim, Chuan points to the amount of campaigning that has been going on in the southern provinces…
- Thailand News
Jailed politician erects billboard to wish voters Happy New Year
A former Thai politician appears to be making a joke out of his current prison term by splashing the cash on a billboard to wish his constituents a Happy New Year. A picture of former Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong features on a Happy New Year billboard in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The billboard has drawn a mixed…
- Crime News
Royal birthdays bring over 100,000 royal prison pardons
To celebrate two royal birthdays, His Royal Majesty King Vajiralongkorn and Her Majesty Queen Mother Sirikit, over 100,000 people in Thai prison have received some level of clemency. HM the King celebrated his 70th birthday this year on July 28 and yesterday the Queen Mother celebrated her 90th birthday. In total 103,613 incarcerated people received a royal pardon, according to…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Bangkok gears up for an Endemic Phase
authorities in Bangkok are preparing to shift their Covid strategy to an ‘endemic phase’, as the Thai Public Health Ministry acknowledges a steep drop in infections and deaths. According to a Nation Thailand report, Kiattiphum Wongrajit from the health ministry says the vaccine rollout, coupled with home isolation programmes and outpatient schemes, has contributed to the significant improvement in the…
- Politics News
PM shrugs off claims of MPs being bribed to vote against him in no-confidence debate
The Thai PM has dismissed allegations that MPs are being bribed to topple the government in a forthcoming no-confidence debate. The claims were made on Facebook by former deputy PM, Trairong Suwannakhiri, according to a Bangkok Post report. Trairong says he’s learnt that between 5 and 30 million baht has been offered to MPs from smaller coalition parties, in an…
- Thailand News
“All Thais are equal but some are more equal than others”
OPINION “We decided to adopt this system, so we must have confidence in the democratic system.” Words from the Thai Parliamentary president Chuan Leekpai urging, or willing, the Thai voters not to “become disheartened with the current state of Thai politics” and to have “confidence in the democratic system”. The democratic system? Constitution Day was on Friday as Thais commemorate…
- Politics News
Progressive Movement party to recruit 32 local candidates for December local elections
The Progressive Movement (code for “the-new-Future-Forward-party”), says it will recruit 32 local candidates for the upcoming December elections. Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the movement’s leader, and former Future Forward Party MP, says more provinces could be added later to the Provincial Administrative Organisation election. The party will use the slogan “Changing Thailand starts at home” for its campaign. The Move Forward Party…
- Politics News
Democrat MP gets 2 years in prison for vote buying
Both Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong and his brother have been sentenced to 2 years in prison for election fraud. If the verdict is upheld by a higher court, Thepthai would be banned from politics for the next decade. The Court found Thepthai and his brother Manote guilty of vote buying. Thai PBS says the illegal bribes took place at a…
- Thailand Election News
Reports of vote tampering will be investigated by police
A leading international polling monitoring organisation claims it’s not confident there wasn’t any tampering in yesterday’s election at polling booths. The vice president of People’s Election Network listed a number of election irregularities reported by some of their volunteer observer network raising doubts about the Election Commission’s efficiency. They say they had 600 observers out amongst polling booths throughout the…
- News
2019 Thai election looking more likely
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) late on Thursday passed the MPs election bill with a clause that delays it coming into effect for 90 days after its promulgation. The members voted 213 to zero with four abstentions. The bill was passed after almost 14 hours of deliberations on Thursday. In the second reading of the bill, the stipulation deferring its…
- Phuket News
PM Prayut invokes Article 44 to sack PPAO President
PHUKET: Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha wielded Article 44 of the interim charter to temporarily suspend Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising from his post without pay. The order signed today names a number of government officials throughout Thailand. Mr Paiboon was the only Phuket official on the list. “The reason the government has temporarily removed me from…
- Thailand News
NRC pushing PM direct-election plan
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NRC pushing PM direct-election plan The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Despite concern and opposition, the National Reform Council (NRC) panel on political reform insisted again yesterday that a direct election of the prime minister would help reduce vote-buying. It added, however, that a winner in…
