Bangkok voters go to polls to pick new governor
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Democrat Party's Bangkok governor candidate Sukhumbhand Paribatra takes part in a campaign for the city’s leader seat in Bangkok on the eve of the voting on Saturday, March 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
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Pheu Thai Party's Bangkok governor candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen greets his supporter during a campaign for the city’s leader seat in Bangkok, on the eve of the voting on Saturday, March 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Democrat Party's Bangkok governor candidate Sukhumbhand Paribatra takes part in a campaign for the city’s leader seat in Bangkok on the eve of the voting on Saturday, March 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Pheu Thai Party's Bangkok governor candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen greets his supporter during a campaign for the city’s leader seat in Bangkok, on the eve of the voting on Saturday, March 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
BANGKOK - Bangkok voters go to the polls today to pick a governor, two years after Thais nationwide gave the Puea Thai party a resounding parliamentary majority in its general election.
The opposition Democrats, whose candidate Sukhumbhand Paribatra is seeking a second four-year term, had pitched the gubernatorial battle as a means to avert a political monopoly by the ruling party.
The capital of Asean’s second largest economy is the only administrative region in Thailand that can elect its own governor. It has been a Democrat stronghold for the past nine years.
Puea Thai put its weight behind a former deputy national police chief Pongsapat Pongcharoen. It promised “seamless” coordination between the central and municipal government.
