Patong elections set for April 26, bringing another weekend alcohol ban

PHUKET: The Patong by-election has been set for Saturday, April 26.

After former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin was found guilty of electoral fraud on March 7 (story here), new elections were required by law to take place within 60 days, explained Patong Municipality Chief Administrative Officer Poonsuk Narksena.

Candidate registrations will be accepted on the third floor at Patong Municipality Office (map here) from 8:30am to 4:30pm on March 20-24, Mr Poonsuk said.

Mr Pian and five councilors were suspended from office in September last year over allegations of vote fraud in the 2012 council election.

All six men were declared guilty on March 7; Mr Pian and three of the councilors received “yellow cards”, meaning they were eligible to run in the next election. The two other men were given “red cards”, barring them from running in the next election.

Within hours of being found guilty, Mr Pian declared his intention to run for office again.

Under election law, an alcohol ban will begin in Phuket’s premier party town at 6pm the night before the election – a Friday night – and extend to midnight on the day of the election – a Saturday night.

The Patong by-election will subject Phuket to five election alcohol bans within just two months (story here).

— Woranut Pechdee