Incumbent re-elected as Bangkok governor
Written by Writer on Monday, October 6th, 2008
Incumbent re-elected as Bangkok governor
BANGKOK, Oct 6 (TNA) - Former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin of the opposition Democrat Party swept to a landslide victory on Sunday in unofficial tallies assessing the results of Sunday’s Bangkok gubernatorial election, leaving his key rival Prapat Chongsanguan of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), far behind.
The election results appeared to indicate the public’s endorsement of both the candidate and the policies of the current municipal government.
Bangkok City Clerk Pongsak Semsant announced the unofficial election results after the city administration completed ballot counting, noting that Mr. Apirak received 991,018 votes or 45.93 per cent of total eligible voters, while Mr. Prapat received only 543,488 votes or 25.19 per cent.
Former massage parlour magnate Chuwit Kamolvisit gained 340,616 votes or 15.79 per cent, while Dr. Kriangsak Charoenwongsak took 260,051 votes or 12.05 per cent.
The four leading candidates together received 2,135,173 votes or 98.96 per cent of all votes cast.
Frequent candidate Leena Jungjanja placed fifth with 6,267 votes or 0.29 per cent, leading a field of 12 minor candidates who collectively received less than one per cent of the vote.
There are a total of 4,086,604 eligible voters in the capital, according to the BMA, and only 2,214,320 people, or 54.18 per cent, casting their votes, he said.
Some 19,231 voided ballots and 37,065 ballots cast without vote for any candidate completed the tally.
Vice Admiral Narong Chalothorn, chairman of Bangkok Metropolis’ election commission said earlier that the total turnout missed the target of 70 per cent voters set earlier by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration by 15 per cent.
In the last election for governor, in 2004, 2,472,486 Bangkokians or 62.5 per cent of the total 3,955,855 eligible voters cast ballots.
“Eligible voters turned out exercise their rights in smaller numbers perhaps because some are bored with the country’s current political disturbances or found it inconvenient to go out to cast ballots,” he said.
The Bangkok Election Commission (EC) will send the official result to the nationall EC for its consideration on Monday to approve the results.
Mr. Apirak thanked city supporters for their trust given to him and attributed the plurality of votes he had secured partly to his candidacy for the Bangkok governor election under the banner of the Democrat Party and his clear policy on encouraging people to participate in education and the development of quality of life.
He pledged to liaise with all parties to the utmost of his ability for a good performance amid a divided public.
Apirak said he believed most people wanted to see peace and order restored in the country.
Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was pleased that most city residents had voted for Mr. Apirak. He said his party would step up efforts to solve immediate problems Bangkok is facing including the threat of floods and pollution, and that he would push for the efficient implementation of Mr. Apirak’s policies.
Regarding a probe on the firefighting truck corruption scandal, Mr. Abhisit said it would not obstruct the new governor’s performance of his duties.
Mr. Apirak had given full cooperation to the investigation, he said, also adding that the former governor had never obstructed the media’s performance of its duties. (TNA)
MCOT News
