Drowsy Bangkok Breaks New Politics Party's Heart

[webfact]

ANALYSIS

Easy win for Democrats

By Tulsathit Taptim

The Nation

Drowsy Bangkok breaks New Politics Party's heart

Did Bangkok speak up? The answer is "Yes" and "No" - meaning the results of the city assembly elections and district councils' elections could be considered a signal from Bangkokians on how they feel about national politics, but the feelings were conveyed in a half-asleep manner.

The low voter turn-out, 42 per cent for the district council election, according to initial reports, means the results, while being a good indicator of what could happen in the capital in the general election, should not have too much read into them.

"Let's go and help Mark [Abhisit]," a voter in Ram-indra told his wife. That kind of motive resonated in many areas elsewhere. Many went out to vote because they liked Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, but others because they wanted to snub him.

City Assembly and district councils elections used to be about personalities and checks and balances. National politics influenced decisions, but historically, even dominant parties in Bangkok during the election periods could not expect a major sweep.

A lot of voters yesterday did not even know the names of their "preferred" choices. Some were overheard trying to find out which candidate was running under which party. That showed "party" is more important than individuals as far as those voters are concerned.

So, what was Bangkok's drowsy message then? If grass-roots canvassing is what city assembly and district councils elections are all about, as was the case previously, then the Democrats have proven better than their key rivals in this aspect. And also, if national politics played a role in the latest elections, the Bangkok public moods have been confirmed to still be in favour of the ruling party.

Pheu Thai will be the far happier of the two "losers". The results underlined considerable presence of "red" support in the capital, albeit mostly on its outskirts. New Politics, the newcomer, however, learned a hard lesson in its first real debut. The yellow-coloured party has failed on two fronts - the battle against the reds and the attempt to present itself as an alternative to the Democrats.

The poor showing by the New Politics Party could be attributed to its fledging canvassing mechanism. It also must have something to do with murky leadership, with admirers of Sondhi Limthongkul uncertain about his commitment to the party after he abandoned its helm. Pheu Thai faced a similar leadership problem, but got away with it thanks to Thaksin Shinawatra's lingering popularity and long-time canvassing machinery.

The troublesome leadership issues of their rivals left the Democrats the only party with a charismatic leader that Bangkokians could cling to. Of course, there were voters yesterday hellbent on snubbing him, but the "Abhisit fever" in the city seemed to deal comfortably with that.

The low turn-out, however, means all three rivals can still have hope. The Democrats can dream of an even better outcome in a general election, but the two losers can take heart in the fact that in most elections with low turn-outs, government candidates always tend to benefit.

Pheu Thai has the right to believe it could be a big difference if more voters show up to overwhelm the advantages of state canvassing. New Politics should have been better prepared and, for its own good, will suspect many voices who mattered failed to play their roles yesterday - and this could be an untapped market in the future.

-- The Nation 2010-08-30

[webfact]

NPP fails to win a single seat

By The Nation

Party blames low voter turnout for Bangkok poll, won by city Democrats

The New Politics Party failed to win a single seat, while the Democrats beat Pheu Thai Party easily in Bangkok's city and district council elections, which saw far less voter turnout than expected by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

New Politics Party secretary general Suriyasai Katasila blamed low voter turnout as one reason for the party's humiliating defeat.

He said that being a new party with few achievements and the fact the party did not cheat contributed to its election defeat.

Suriyasai said the party would have had a chance to win some seats if voter turnout reached 60-70 per cent. He believed party supporters had not exercised their voting rights and "silent" power.

Unofficial election results showed the Democrat Party left other parties far behind, winning 210 out of 256 total district councillor seats.

Pheu Thai Party won 39 seats, while independent candidates won seven seats.

The Democrats were also leading in the Bangkok city election, with a total 61 seats.

Suriyasai thanked all voters who voted for the party, saying all votes they received were pure because they were not bought. The party would use the lesson learnt from this election to prepare itself for the general election, if Parliament was dissolved, and the gubernatorial election in the next two years.

BMA permanent secretary Charoenrat Chutikarn, who is in charge of the city election, said voter turnout for the district councilor election in 36 districts stood at 925,697 from a total 2,737,054 eligible voters, or 42 per cent. The district with the highest voter turnout was Thung Khru, where 52 per cent of residents voted. After visiting a polling booth at Ban Manangkasila in Dusit district after the election ended at 3pm, Charoenrat said only 200 voters turned up at the polling station to exercise their voting rights out of some 700 eligible voters.

The BMA had earlier predicted about 50 per cent of some four million eligible voters would cast ballots. The BMA will seek out reasons behind the unusually low voter turnout. Charoenrat said one of the reasons believed to contribute to the problem was candidates did not carry out sufficient election campaigns to encourage voters to exercise their voting rights.

He also blamed the poor weather yesterday as a reason, insisting that the BMA has tried to its best to get voters to the poll. He cited poll results that showed voters were aware of the election.

No disruptive incidents had taken place during the election and the poll results would be revealed quickly, due to low voter turnout.

Statistics from 2000-2008 showed some 72 per cent of residents in the capital exercised their voting right during the MP election in February 2005.

But the lowest turnout was the 40-per-cent turnout for the Senate election in March 2008.

The Bangkok Election Commission received 16 electoral complaints in seven districts. Bang Khuntien had five complaints, the highest of all districts. Lat Krabang and Don Mueang followed with two complaints each.

Most of the complaints were about electoral promises.

PM's Office Minister Ongart Klampaiboon expressed confidence the party would win not less

than 35 seats in the Bangkok city poll.

He said the area of greatest concern for the party was outer districts of Bangkok which were strongholds for Pheu Thai. He did not believe local election results would reflect what will happen in the general election, saying it was a different ball game. Voters paid more attention to individual candidates in local elections, while they looked instead at party candidates in the general election.

-- The Nation 2010-08-30

[webfact]

Democrats sweep 45 BKK Assembly seats: unofficial results

The Democrat Party Sunday swept 45 out of 61 seats of the Bangkok City Assembly, leaving 15 for the Pheu Thai and another for an independent candidate, according to unofficial results.

The city election was held in 50 Bangkok districts.

Renumas Issarapakdee is the only independent candidate who won in Lak Si district.

-- The Nation 2010-08-30

[SamritT]

NPP fails to win a single seat? It must be a mistake, or massive cheating by the Red PT. We must protest in Govt House & Airports for a re-election. Better still appoint 70% and elect 30% as proposed by the great Sondhi.

[canuckamuck]

Democrats sweep 45 BKK Assembly seats: unofficial results

The Democrat Party Sunday swept 45 out of 61 seats of the Bangkok City Assembly, leaving 15 for the Pheu Thai and another for an independent candidate, according to unofficial results.

The city election was held in 50 Bangkok districts.

Renumas Issarapakdee is the only independent candidate who won in Lak Si district.

-- The Nation 2010-08-30

Sweep means to take them all, why can't the nation afford to hire some one who speaks the language?

[webfact]

Democrat Party Enjoys Landslide in Bkk Elections

In Sunday's local election, the Democrat Party swept 45 out of 61 seats in the Bangkok City Assembly. The opposition Pheu Thai gained 15 seats, leaving one seat for an independent candidate. Unofficial results released early Monday morning suggests that candidates from the New Politics Party were not successful in the local election.

Renumas Issarapakdee is the only independent candidate who won in Lak Si district.

Voter turnout for the Bangkok City Assembly is estimated at 41.15 per cent.

In the district council election, the ruling Democrats won 210 out of 256 seats, sweeping all seats in 27 districts.

The opposition Pheu Thai Party won all seats in five districts, which include Phasi Charoen, Thonburi, Nong Khaem, Nongchok and Huay Kwang. The party won a total of 39 seats.

An independent team of candidates won the district council election in Dusit district. They won 7 seats.

Voter turnout was much less than targeted by the Election Commission. Estimates stand at 42.05 per cent of all eligible voters in the capital. However, critics say the official number might be significantly lower.

Reactions from the opposition Pheu Thai were made by Bangkok MP Wicharn Meenchainant who claimed that the election was rampant with irregularities. Examples sited by Wicharn included the presence of military officers at voting stations, which discouraged and intimidated voters.

Spokesman of the New Politics Party, Samran Rodpetch claimed the party's failure in the local elections reflected a lack of experience in campaigning for votes as it is the first election the party has participated in. He also said the unsuccessful fielding of the party's candidates can be attributed to old politics, riddled with vote buying, and low voter turnout.

Samran reiterated, however, that party members have not been discouraged by the election results. He confirms that the New Politics Party will be preparing itself for the national elections expected sometime next year. It is also considering a major campaign launch for the Bangkok major election in two year's time.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-30

[hammered]

Before the election Dems were aiming at 40 and PTP at 20. The Dems will be quite happy and the PTP quite disappointed at this.

While the news media has been manouvered away to who killed the 90 people and all of the hospital invasion, red intimidation, police failure to enforce law and red violence has moved away from the front pages, it wont be forgotten in a long time. That also explains the NPP disaster as those remembering the violence arent going to split the anti-red vote and let the PTP in. Realpolitik.

The lwo turn out also shows a lot of people are bored by the whole lot of polticial shenigans and in a democracy contrary to fed lines not voting is a perfectly valid statement albeit one unrecognized in any current electoral system.

[OzMick]

Looks like the coloured shirt brigades are history; so much for the claim that the Red shirts were representative of the urban poor.

I suppose it's possible that the 60% who didn't bother to vote are all Reds, but they were just too drunk/drugged/lazy to vote. Wait, it was raining! Maybe they were too poor to afford an umbrella.

Edited August 30, 2010 by OzMick

[webfact]

BMA to Announce Results of Local Elections at 11 A.M.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will be announcing unofficial results from the Election Commission on the Bangkok City Assembly and distrlct elections at 11 A.M. this morning.

-- Tan Network 2010-08-30

[Insight]

Looks like the coloured shirt brigades are history; so much for the claim that the Red shirts were representative of the urban poor.

I suppose it's possible that the 60% who didn't bother to vote are all Reds, but they were just too drunk/drugged/lazy to vote. Wait, it was raining! Maybe they were too poor to afford an umbrella.

Would really like to agree with you there, but as long as money is being thrown at the cause(s) I sadly doubt it - regardless of what the moderate majority might think of them.

[hammered]

Looks like the coloured shirt brigades are history; so much for the claim that the Red shirts were representative of the urban poor.

I suppose it's possible that the 60% who didn't bother to vote are all Reds, but they were just too drunk/drugged/lazy to vote. Wait, it was raining! Maybe they were too poor to afford an umbrella.

Would really like to agree with you there, but as long as money is being thrown at the cause(s) I sadly doubt it - regardless of what the moderate majority might think of them.

True. It has been analysed in Thai news medai that Thaksin is quietly withdrawing from view right now as he spends his time making sure the PTP stays intact and is financially cashed up ready for the next election which if it comes before the next hot season will be his next opportunity to make a power play. Come the next hot season a new organized violent uprising to go with the last two remains another possibility.

[jayboy]

Before the election Dems were aiming at 40 and PTP at 20. The Dems will be quite happy and the PTP quite disappointed at this.

While the news media has been manouvered away to who killed the 90 people and all of the hospital invasion, red intimidation, police failure to enforce law and red violence has moved away from the front pages, it wont be forgotten in a long time. That also explains the NPP disaster as those remembering the violence arent going to split the anti-red vote and let the PTP in. Realpolitik.

The lwo turn out also shows a lot of people are bored by the whole lot of polticial shenigans and in a democracy contrary to fed lines not voting is a perfectly valid statement albeit one unrecognized in any current electoral system.

That's a quite fair summary though I would probably describe it more or less the expexted result, but I don't quibble with your description.Where I disagree is your take on the NPP. ie disaster just because of tactical voting.The rejection of NPP is at least as much I suggest a "refudiation" ,as Sarah Palin, would say of its policies and leadership.

Meanwhile in the suburbs many thousands of Thais vote for the party associated by the Government with "terrorists".Behind the Democrats' contentment with the result, this must be the source of some unease.

[Buchholz]

Evidently a complete "refudiation" of the Khattiyatham Party as the departed Sae Daeng's Party evidently didn't win a seat and likely were too discombobulated to even run candidates.

In the end, compared to the last Bangkok election the Democrats are stronger than they were before with 210 seats now and 176 seats previously and the Pheu Thai/Thai Rak Thai are weaker than before with 39 seats now and 71 seats previously.

[mirthseeker]

Quote:

"The Bangkok Election Commission received 16 electoral complaints in seven districts. Bang Khuntien had five complaints, the highest of all districts."

In Bang Khuntien (a red shirt area), gossip is that the value put on a vote, by one party, was 200 baht.

[jayboy]

Looks like the coloured shirt brigades are history; so much for the claim that the Red shirts were representative of the urban poor.

I suppose it's possible that the 60% who didn't bother to vote are all Reds, but they were just too drunk/drugged/lazy to vote. Wait, it was raining! Maybe they were too poor to afford an umbrella.

What a perceptive and intelligent insight.I am sure we will be turning to you for guidance since you so clearly have a grasp of the complexities of the current political scene.However as a polite suggestion to reflect your knowledge,comprehension and intellect perhaps you should consider a different nom de plume.Unfortunately OzMick gives the impression of an ignorant Irish Australian boor, and clearly this is nothing like you at all.

[webfact]

Democrats win over Opposition Puea Thai in Bangkok council elections

BANGKOK: -- The Thai capital's municipality elections confirmed the continuation in power of ruling Democrats win in 45 seats, triple the amount of the opposition Puea Thai party, which captured only 15 seats from the overall 61 seats available in 50 districts, the Bangkok Election Office announced on Monday its unofficial results of Sunday’s city councillor elections.

An independent candidate gained a seat in Lak Si district while the New Politics Party failed to win even a single seat in Sunday’s city elections.

In Bangkok district councillor elections, which finished late Sunday, vote tallies showed that Democrats won 210 seats of the overall 256 seats. The opposition Puea Thai party took 39 seats and independent candidates

grabbed seven seats.

The Bangkok city and district councilor election was held on Sunday. Voter turnout was recorded at 41.15 per cent, less than the last elections reported at 41.94 per cent. Out of 4,139,075 eligible voters, 1,703,206 exercised their right to cast ballots in 6,433 constituencies.

Meanwhile, Ongart Klampaiboon, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office in his capacity of Democrat Bangkok MPs chairman, said on Monday

that he is satisfied with the local election results in which the Democrat contestants won majority seats in both city and district councils.

Mr Ongart said the Democrats also were also elected in a higher number than the previous Bangkok council elections four years ago, while conceding that the Sunday polling results can be an indicator of the coming general elections.

The Democrat Bangkok MPs chairman however said the party will have to analyse again whether the Sunday election results will have more or less impact on the general elections.

"By the time party candidate Apirak Kosayothin won the Bangkok governor election, it was the golden era of the Thai Rak Thai Party and four to five months later the Thai Rak Thai Party won a majority of parliamentary seats in Bangkok," Mr Ongart said.

The Democrats however won the majority of seats for the Bangkok MPs election two years later, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-08-30

[dogleg]

^and yours makes you sound like a homosexual who can't spell. Jeez!

[Robby nz]

Reactions from the opposition Pheu Thai were made by Bangkok MP Wicharn Meenchainant who claimed that the election was rampant with irregularities. Examples sited by Wicharn included the presence of military officers at voting stations, which discouraged and intimidated voters.

Interpratation:

We didnt win so the Dems must have cheated.

Does he not realise the only reason the army were present was because of the recent bombings and violance by the reds?

Their presence certainly seems to have discouraged and intimidated those who would commit violance.

So the Dems have the time between now and the general election to improve their position.

With the budget now all but passed if it can be applied fairly where it is most needed that shouldnt be to difficult to do.

RIP PTP, not that Thaksin will let them.

[whybother]

Reactions from the opposition Pheu Thai were made by Bangkok MP Wicharn Meenchainant who claimed that the election was rampant with irregularities. Examples sited by Wicharn included the presence of military officers at voting stations, which discouraged and intimidated voters.

Interpratation:

We didnt win so the Dems must have cheated.

Does he not realise the only reason the army were present was because of the recent bombings and violance by the reds?

Their presence certainly seems to have discouraged and intimidated those who would commit violance.

So the Dems have the time between now and the general election to improve their position.

With the budget now all but passed if it can be applied fairly where it is most needed that shouldnt be to difficult to do.

RIP PTP, not that Thaksin will let them.

I'd like him to explain why the presence of military officers discourages red shirts from voting?

[hammered]

Before the election Dems were aiming at 40 and PTP at 20. The Dems will be quite happy and the PTP quite disappointed at this.

While the news media has been manouvered away to who killed the 90 people and all of the hospital invasion, red intimidation, police failure to enforce law and red violence has moved away from the front pages, it wont be forgotten in a long time. That also explains the NPP disaster as those remembering the violence arent going to split the anti-red vote and let the PTP in. Realpolitik.

The lwo turn out also shows a lot of people are bored by the whole lot of polticial shenigans and in a democracy contrary to fed lines not voting is a perfectly valid statement albeit one unrecognized in any current electoral system.

That's a quite fair summary though I would probably describe it more or less the expexted result, but I don't quibble with your description.Where I disagree is your take on the NPP. ie disaster just because of tactical voting.The rejection of NPP is at least as much I suggest a "refudiation" ,as Sarah Palin, would say of its policies and leadership.

Meanwhile in the suburbs many thousands of Thais vote for the party associated by the Government with "terrorists".Behind the Democrats' contentment with the result, this must be the source of some unease.

I wouldnt disagree with the NPP being "refudiated" too although quite how they would have performed if the Dems hadnt actually campaigned on an NPP vote is a vote for red remains moot.

I doubt the Dems would be overly bothered by the eastern suburb voting, they know that PTP has support both for polticies and through Bangkok and surrounding provinces power brokers. That is political reality. The big test comes at national level and is more about how PTP do vis-a-vis BJT that will set the outcome. Dems and PTP dont in reality compete in many of the same constituenicies whereas BJT and PTP are fighting for the same constituencies. That will determine the outcome of a national election if indeed there is one, which is something I am not certain of.

[gpdjohn]

My father in law is one of those that was elected yesterday.

He is a Thaksin supporter ( the only one in the family )

Needless to say, he is a happy camper today.

[Siripon]

My father in law is one of those that was elected yesterday.

He is a Thaksin supporter ( the only one in the family )

Needless to say, he is a happy camper today.

Please try to persuade your wife to make him see reason!

The local council elections have no significance for the national stage as the Democrats have minimal presence in the north and Issan.They really must campaign there from now on, but if Mark gets banned with other luminaries it will be a big blow.

I said sometime ago that the yellows were a spent force, Sonthi was, and is, an excellent fighter, but he's no good at building the peac. Now it's up to the Democrats to widen their base with more young blood.

[TAWP]

My father in law is one of those that was elected yesterday.

He is a Thaksin supporter ( the only one in the family )

Needless to say, he is a happy camper today.

Politics...where criminals are elected into the bank vault.

[SamritT]

No more election please. Important position in Thai politics should be filled by appointment.

[webfact]

Pheu Thai loses in Bangkok elections because of red-shirt protesters: Plodprasop

Pheu Thai Party deputy leader Plodprasop Surassawadi Monday admitted that his party had lost in the Bangkok city council and district council elections partly because of the red-shirt protesters.

"We should not deny this repercussion. Bangkokians always think about the burning of the city," Plodprasop said.

"Jatuporn Promphan has announced that he will not lead red-shirt people to be killed in Bangkok again and this is a good thing because Bangkokians will stop worrying."

Plodprasop said the silent majority did not come out to vote and this was another reason that caused the party to lose in the elections.

-- The Nation 2010-08-30

[Robby nz]

"Jatuporn Promphan has announced that he will not lead red-shirt people to be killed in Bangkok again and this is a good thing because Bangkokians will stop worrying."

But he tells porkies....Is this another?

Or is this some sort of admission that last time he led red shirt people with the intention of getting them killed?

[Cayenne]

""We should not deny this repercussion. Bangkokians always think about the burning of the city," Plodprasop said."

Should've thought of that before you started burning the city!

[SamritT]

I still cannot figure why PAD cannot even win a SINGLE seat. I thought people in Don Muang & Suwannaphum love PAD?

[Buchholz]

Pheu Thai Party deputy leader Plodprasop Surassawadi Monday admitted that his party had lost in the Bangkok city council and district council elections partly because of the red-shirt protesters.

"Jatuporn Promphan has announced that he will not lead red-shirt people to be killed in Bangkok again

What a wonderfully magnanimous gesture from the rabble-rouser. He is generous to a fault.

And at the same time, hollow words from the Deputy Leader whose Party fully supports the Red Shirts and their bonds are inseparable. But they get blown out in an election and now all of a sudden, it's the Red Shirts' fault, implying total disassociation from their brethren.

Plodprasop said the silent majority did not come out to vote and this was another reason that caused the party to lose in the elections

They are drubbed into submission at an election with pitiful results for them, but yet, somehow, they are still the "majority"....

Plodprasop plodding along...

Edited August 30, 2010 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

Democrat Party wins Bangkok city polls

Bangkok - Thailand's ruling Democrat Party won Bangkok city polls at the weekend officials said Monday, months after anti-government protests left dozens dead and many buildings torched in the capital. The Democrat Party, which leads the coalition government, won 255 Bangkok city and district council seats in Sunday's polls, compared with 54 for the Puea Thai opposition party, the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority said. Independents won eight seats.

Political analysts said the vote for the Democrats was an indictment of the violence that seized Bangkok from March to May.

The Puea Thai party, whose de facto leader is fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, is allied to the red shirt movement that held anti-government protests in Bangkok between March 12 and May 19, resulting in street battles that left 91 people dead and more than 1,800 injured.

Continues:

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/341613,wins-bangkok-city-polls.html

DPA - August 30, 2010