With two days to go before the general election and constitutional reform referendum this Sunday (8 February), major political parties held their final major rallies in Bangkok on Friday evening (6 February)
We speak to attendees at rallies held by the People's Party, Pheu Thai Party, Bhumjaithai Party, and the Democrat Party about their view on politics and why they support the parties they do.
The view inside the Kilawes 1 building at the Thai-Japan Bangkok Youth Center, where the People's Party held its final rally before the election. The large screen reads "People change the country" while the screen hanging above the hall reads "vote for change."
The People’s Party returned to the Thai-Japan Bangkok Youth Center, where its predecessors the now-dissolved Future Forward and Move Forward parties held its final campaign events in 2019 and 2023. Supporters packed into the Kilawes 1 building to hear speeches from party leaders, while more gathered at the field behind the building, where the event is being livestreamed.
Meanwhile, the legal watchdog NGO iLaw set up a table outside the building to campaign for people to vote in favour of a new constitution in the referendum, as well as for citizen observers to watch the vote counting.
Aparat, a 70-year-old former Red Shirt from Pathumthani, came to the People’s Party event. She told Prachatai that, although she found it unacceptable that the party voted for Bhumjaithai’s Anutin Charnvirakul to become Prime Minister after the dismissal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, she respected the party’s decision and said that she likes that they were willing to hear their voters’ opinions.
Of the policies being proposed by the party, Aparat said she likes the idea of increasing benefit for senior citizens to 1000 baht per month. Although the amount is less than what has been proposed in previous elections, she likes that the party is making it clear that there is not enough budget for a higher increase while other parties might inflate their promises.
Also at the event was Sa and Gigi, who are both in their 30’s and are graduates of Thammasat University. They said that they were also supporters of the Future Forward Party and that they got to know the party because Rangsiman Rome, one of its prominent MPs, also went to Thammasat.
Sa and Gigi, who are both not from Bangkok, said they like decentralization policies, such as governor election for all provinces and electric bus system.
Like Aparat, Sa said she didn’t like that the party voted for Anutin and would prefer Pheu Thai’s candidate, but came to understand that the party was aiming for constitutional amendment after hearing an interview by academic Thongchai Winichakul.
Sa and Gigi agreed that there is fewer social media buzz around the party than during the last election, but speculated that it was because younger voters are now grown up, started working, and maybe too tired for social media. They believe that these voters will quietly go to the poll and vote for the party and for a new constitution.
Meanwhile, 38-year-old Jo from Nonthaburi said that he has never liked any political party and had voted for no one in previous elections until the Move Forward Party was formed, and he became interested in its anti-corruption policies.
Jo said he gets his news from Facebook and TikTok. Rukchanon Srinork is his favorite MP, he said, because she is straightforward and clear.
Jo also does not like that the party voted for Anutin, but later came to understand that the aim was to open the door to constitutional amendments. For him, Anutin is still better than a candidate from Pheu Thai because he said that Pheu Thai has broken promises, whether it was forming a government with parties that previously support the NCPO junta or failing to deliver its digital wallet scheme.
Pheu Thai supporters gathering at the Thephasadin Stadium. The slogan on the screen reads "Yodchanan can do it."
Meanwhile, Pheu Thai supporters flocked to the Thephasadin Stadium on the grounds of the National Stadium in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district. Other than vendors selling food and merchandise with party symbol, the legal watchdog NGO iLaw also set up a table campaigning about the upcoming constitutional reform referendum.
Ba, a 26-year-old researcher, likes Pheu Thai’s proposal to make the BTS skytrain costs 20 baht per ride as it would save travel cost. Although Pheu Thai’s governments have never been very stable, Ba said that the party at least try to deliver its policies and to keep the country’s economy going.
Ba said they will vote in favour of a new constitution because the 2017 Constitution was written by the NCPO junta and that many of its restrictions have been used against Pheu Thai, such as its vaguely defined ethical standards.
Meanwhile, high school friends Yok, Shisha, Global, and Jak came to the event together. The upcoming election will be their second time voting. They said they have been interested in politics since they were in high school and connected because of it during the 2014 coup.
Yok, who now works as a radiologist, said she was excited for the 2023 general because it was her first time voting and because the country has spent so long under the junta. She voted for Pheu Thai over Move Forward because Pheu Thai proposes to make the salary for people with Bachelor’s degree start at 25,000 baht. She also likes the ODOS scholarship and hopes the party would bring it back because she has a younger sister in high school and she wants young people to have the opportunity to study overseas.
Jak works in a private company said that, when he was younger, he liked the anti-drugs policy that works in his home region of Isaan. He said that, during the last election, he feels like Pheu Thai’s economy policies are a better fit and still feel the same way. He also likes that science is given a priority by Pheu Thai’s Prime Minister candidate Yodchanan Wongsawat.
Shisha, a nursing student, said that patients have told her that they would have died without the 30-baht healthcare scheme launched during the government of Thaksin Shinawatra. When asked about the criticism that the scheme increased the workload of medical professionals, Shisha said she doesn’t have the experience as she is still studying, but she thinks people should have empathy.
Yok, who works in a hospital, agreed about the scheme’s benefit. She said that more budget should be allocated to the public health system. As Thailand becomes an aging society, the public health system would require more resources and personnel. The focus should be on the policy, she said, not the individual.
Global, the only friend in the group not in STEM, said that he likes that Pheu Thai always has new policy to support the arts, such as its support for micro cinemas. He said he likes that the party can take criticism and that its policies change with the times.
Bhumjaithai's rally at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. The slogan on the screen reads "Choose Bhumjaithai, get professionals, overhaul the economy, get through world crisis."
At the Queen National Convention Center (QSNCC), the Bhumjaithai Party’s supporters gather for its final campaign event on Friday evening (6 February) ahead of this Sunday’s general election.
37-year-old Phatchara Jirawitchasak said that the party is interesting because of its candidates and because its policies are practical.
Meanwhile, 40-year-old influencer Dr Natthaphong Robkob said he isn’t voting for Bhumjaithai as a supporter, but believes that it has an advantage because it has already formed a government and has some successes.
Nat (pseudonym), 63, said he support the party because he believes the party keeps its promises.
All three said that Bhumjaithai stands out from others because people can see the results of its works, and that it seems credible because of its past management and because its team has experience. They also said that it is the party’s strength to bring professionals into its government as they can add to the government’s work.
Phatchara and Natthaphong both said that economic stimulus policies like the Half-Half Plus co-payment scheme are beneficial, while Nat said that national security policies are important, including dealing with the border conflict.
Phatchara said she would like the next government to focus on the economy and the border conflict, while Natthaphong said it should focus on stamping out corruption. Nat said the government should handle the border issues and scammer issues.
The Democrat rally at One Bangkok
At One Bangkok, supporters of the Democrat Party gathered for its final rally on Friday evening (6 February) ahead of the general election on Sunday (8 February). It is one of four major parties to hold their final rallies on Friday.
61-year-old Woraphon Hanpirunporn said he liked Abhisit Vejjajiwa, the Democrat Prime Minister candidate. He said he is a long-time supporter of the party, and that Abhisit’s campaign video clips were quite creative. He said he followed the party on Facebook and TikTok, and noted that its communication methods have changed.
He likes the Democrat proposal to make the skytrain cost 30 baht per ride, increase senior benefit to 1000 baht, and reduce electricity costs.
Jongsanguan Lertthanasarn, 66, is also a long-time supporter. His two children are now running in the election as Democrat MP candidates for two Bangkok constituencies. He said he is proud of them for qualifying as MP candidates as the party very carefully select its candidates in a process Jongsanguan’s wife says is like a beauty pageant.
Jongsanguan said the Democrat is “the best opposition party in Thailand”and that even if it doesn’t join the government coalition, it will still be a formidable opposition. He also said he believes Abhisit will bring Democrat’s supporters back to the party, and he hopes that corruption issues will be improved.
Meanwhile, 23-year-old Nay came to the event because she wanted to hear from a party she isn’t voting for. She said she was curious and wanted to know what policy its proposing or why its supporters in the South are returning.
Nay came to the event with two other friends who both said they were curious about the Democrat Party’s policy package and why it is able to bring back its supporters.
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