The Election Commission (EC) reported that virtually all of vote-buying incidents during yesterday’s elections happened in Bangkok, which boasts the very best variety of constituencies among all provinces. Despite this, the EC famous that the overall number of poll-related violations was lower than in earlier elections.
EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee disclosed that the commission received 163 complaints yesterday, with fifty eight regarding vote-buying, fifty five involving fraud, and 17 about the abuse of energy by state officials overseeing the elections. Vote-buying incidents were reported in numerous areas, although most occurred in Bangkok.
Replicate stated that over 150,000 officers have been deployed to take care of peace and order at the 94,737 polling stations countrywide. In the past two to a few days, a minimal of three individuals have been charged with vote-buying. Police are also investigating incidents of marketing campaign banner vandalism.
Deputy nationwide police chief and head of the Royal Thai Police’s election administrative centre, Roy Inkapairoj, explained that almost all of complaints acquired by the centre have been associated to the destruction of marketing campaign banners. The centre’s spokesman, Nithithorn Chintakanon, added that over 1,000 candidates’ banners had been vandalised through the campaigning period.
On the eve of the elections, there was a surge in vote-buying complaints in Kanchanaburi. In Ayutthaya, native law enforcement has gathered enough proof to charge several people with vote-buying offences.
In related news, former politician and whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit claimed that in Ayutthaya, Chon Buri, Pathum Thani, Songkhla, and Yala, at least 100 individuals distributed 500 baht (approximately US$15) each to native villagers in change for their votes. The evidence supporting his allegations stays unspecified.
Meanwhile, academics are predicting that the Move Forward Party (MFP) is likely to form a authorities coalition with the Pheu Thai Party and other smaller parties following yesterday’s Thai election..