Abhisit calls for elected provincial governors

By The Nation

 

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva

 

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday promised to push for elections of provincial governors as part of administrative reforms.

 

He said the decentralisation of power to residents in the provinces was necessary to help reduce inequality between regions.

 

“It is time for provinces all over the country to be able to elect their governors. Every province has its own needs. Also, inequality is partly caused by the fact that everyone has to wait for decisions from Bangkok,” Abhisit said.

 

Only the governor of Bangkok is popularly elected by residents. Governors of other provinces are senior bureaucrats appointed by the Interior Ministry.

 

He also promised, if re-elected by party members as the Democrat leader, he would push ahead with matters that the party did not succeed or failed to implement when it was part of coalition governments in the past.

 

A former prime minister, Abhisit said that among those issues were reform of the police and decentralisation of administrative power to the provinces.

 

He was speaking in Phuket while campaigning with party members in a race to retain the Democrat leadership on a campaign trip in the southern provinces. He has so far visited Chumphon, Phatthalung and Prachuap Khiri Khan. 

 

Abhisit is one of the three Democrats contesting for the party leader’s seat. The other contestants are Warong Dechgitvigrom and Alongkorn Ponlaboot.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30357113

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-10-25

Sound idea, which should've been implemented years ago. 

 

Amphoe, Tambon, Thesaban/Moobaan, and for the large part, Provincial officialdom are voted upon. 

 

Why not the big cheeses?

Are we afraid of something?

57 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Sound idea, which should've been implemented years ago. 

Yes, but coming from this guy it's just sound.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Governors of other provinces are senior bureaucrats appointed by the Interior Ministry.

classic corruption; handing out governorships to your cronies who may not even know where 'their province' even is

3 hours ago, Darcula said:

Yes, but coming from this guy it's just sound.

You don't have to like a guy to acknowledge a good idea. Partisan politics is extremely destructive to a country, as we are seeing more and more around the world.

4 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Sound idea, which should've been implemented years ago. 

 

Amphoe, Tambon, Thesaban/Moobaan, and for the large part, Provincial officialdom are voted upon. 

 

Why not the big cheeses?

Are we afraid of something?

Not afraid.. but as others said rewarding a governor post to your cronies is a good way to keep them happy. 

Great plan of Abhisit, it would have been a great plan too if it came from the PTP. 

 

Though I am not sure anyone really wants this to become truth as it gives those in power less chance for corruption (giving away governor posts for money)

8 hours ago, webfact said:

“It is time for provinces all over the country to be able to elect their governors.

Hypocrite.

When it was time to elect parliament ministers and a PM in 2014, he in support for PDRC tried to shutdown the election. He encouraged Thais not to vote.

9 hours ago, YetAnother said:

classic corruption; handing out governorships to your cronies who may not even know where 'their province' even is

Yeah...

It's even been known that some appointed provincial governors are mixed and matched and officially transferred to other provincial seats. Creating more of a ridiculous system.

On 10/25/2018 at 11:55 AM, Srikcir said:

Hypocrite.

When it was time to elect parliament ministers and a PM in 2014, he in support for PDRC tried to shutdown the election. He encouraged Thais not to vote.

 

And those hoping to extend their corrupt regime through the 2014 proposed election were just as hypocritical. They did not support any move for elected provincial governors. They needed the ability to award such posts to cronies in return for services rendered.