People’s Party leadership under scrutiny

People’s Party candidate Chaiwat “Dr Joe” Sathawornwichit finished a distant third in the Bangkok governor election, a result that fell well short of expectations for the opposition party that won all 33 seats in the capital in the Feb 8 general election.

The June 28 elections for Bangkok governor, Bangkok city councillors and Pattaya mayor delivered the most significant electoral setback yet for the main opposition People’s Party (PP), raising fresh questions about its leadership, electoral strategy and ability to convert national popularity into victories in executive contests.

While the party maintained a strong presence in the Bangkok Metropolitan Council, its disappointing performances in the two high-profile executive races exposed weaknesses that analysts say could shape Thailand’s political landscape ahead of the next general election.