Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s political clout couldn’t sway the outcome of the Chiang Rai Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) presidential election in favor of the Pheu Thai Party. Despite Thaksin’s campaign efforts, the incumbent independent candidate, Athitathorn Wanchaithanawong, emerged victorious over Pheu Thai’s Salakjit Tiyapairat.

Election Results

Unexpected Outcome

With 95% of the votes counted, Athitathorn secured a lead of nearly 20,000 votes over her Pheu Thai rival1. The final tally showed Athitathorn with 249,845 votes, while Salakjit received 230,262 votes. A third candidate, Jiraporn Muenchaiwong, garnered 20,254 votes1.

Thaksin’s Campaign Efforts

Promises and Visits

In the lead-up to the election, Thaksin made two campaign visits to Chiang Rai, promising better care from the central government if voters elected a PAO president from the ruling party. However, these promises failed to materialize into votes for the Pheu Thai candidate.

Voter Maturity

Local vs. National Politics

Athitathorn attributed her victory to the political maturity of Chiang Rai residents, stating that they have learned to differentiate between local and national politics. This suggests that voters prioritized local issues and candidate qualifications over national party affiliations.

Implications for Pheu Thai

Setback in the North

This defeat in Chiang Rai, a province in Thailand’s northern region where Thaksin once held significant influence, represents a setback for the Pheu Thai Party. It highlights the challenges the party faces in maintaining its stronghold in areas traditionally supportive of Thaksin and his political movement.

Broader Election Context

Mixed Results Nationwide

While Pheu Thai faced disappointment in Chiang Rai, the party performed well overall in the PAO elections held across Thailand. Unofficial results indicate that Pheu Thai secured victories in 18 provinces, the highest number among all parties. This suggests that while Thaksin’s influence may have waned in some areas, the party still maintains considerable support nationwide.

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