BANGKOK, Thailand – Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has signaled he is highly likely to seek a second term in office, while acknowledging that the upcoming gubernatorial race will be far tougher than his historic 2022 landslide victory. Speaking on Wednesday, Chadchart said he would make an official announcement closer to the end of his current term, stressing that his priority remains fulfilling his duties as governor. “The chances of continuing are high,” he said. “But for now, I am still the governor and want to focus on doing my job as best as possible.”
Chadchart dismissed suggestions that he could cruise to another landslide win, pointing to the growing political strength of the People’s Party in Bangkok after its sweeping success in the latest general election. “There is no way it will be a landslide. It will be difficult,” he said. “The People’s Party has a very strong support base in Bangkok.” The governor said he intends to rely on his four years of work in office rather than campaign slogans, referencing the opposition party’s newly launched “Bangkok Made Easy” campaign. “I’ve already worked for four years. People can judge my performance,” Chadchart said. “Some people like it, some people don’t — that’s normal.”
Despite acknowledging the challenge posed by the People’s Party, Chadchart insisted the election should not be viewed as a political battle between enemies. “Elections are not boxing matches,” he said. “It’s about presenting the best ideas for the people.” Chadchart also reiterated that he currently supports no specific faction or group of Bangkok councilors, although he left open the possibility of endorsing individual candidates in the future based on their ability to work effectively with him. (TNA)
