PM wants candidate to take on Sukhumbhand
MANOP THIP-OSOD
The People Power party (PPP) plans to field Prapat Chongsanguan again in the coming election for Bangkok governor because it considers him the equal of Democrat candidate Sukhumbhand Paribatra. Prime Minister and acting party leader Somchai Wongsawat confirmed in Peru yesterday that he would ask Mr Prapat, who lost the last election, to run again.
 |
| Prapat: Likely to run a second time |
Mr Somchai said the PPP will also present voters with a team of potential deputy governors.
In the last city election on Oct 5 Mr Prapat won about 550,000 votes, while Democrat candidate Apirak Kosayodhin won a second term with nearly one million votes.
M.R. Sukhumbhand told a press conference at Democrat party headquarters yesterday he had been interested in city affairs for a long time. He was part of the support team for former Bangkok governor Bhichit Rattakul and his family had been involved in developing Bangkok for more than 200 years.
The Democrat candidate said he had plans to end divisions in Bangkok and promote family values.
M.R. Sukhumbhand admitted he was worried about running for office after the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) implicated Mr Apirak in the 6.6-million-baht fire truck procurement scandal.
Mr Apirak, whose resignation took effect on Thursday, said he had confidence in M.R. Sukhumbhand because of his familiarity with Bangkok's problems, his three terms as an MP for Bankok and his experience in foreign affairs.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he hoped voters understood that Mr Apirak had offered his resignation not as an admission of guilt, but to lift the standard of Thai politics.
One candidate rejected by the Democrat party was former senator Kaewsan Atipho, who has decided to run independently. He said he will unveil his team on Wednesday.
Mr Kaewsan was a member of the now-defunct Assets Scrutiny Committee that investigated allegations of corruption during the tenure of the Thaksin Shinawatra administration.
Former Bangkok governor candidate Kriengsak Charoenwongsak showed interest in running again, but admitted he would require financial backing. He said he had invested 39 million baht in the last election.
As Mr Apirak's resignation was unexpected, he had not made preparations to raise funds for another campaign.
The election is tentatively scheduled for Jan 11. The registration period is set for Nov 30 to Dec 4. The Election Commission is expected to formally announce it today.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Next
