By-Election Ordered in Chiang Mai as Pheu Thai Winner Disqualified

A woman cast a ballot March 17 at the Lat Phrao District Office in early voting before the March 24 poll.
A woman cast a ballot March 17 at the Lat Phrao District Office in early voting before the March 24 poll.

BANGKOK — A Pheu Thai candidate on Wednesday became the first election winner to be disqualified, after the Election Commission accused him of vote-buying.

Commissioner Sawaeng Boonmee announced a by-election to be held in Chiang Mai’s eighth constituency after nullifying the victory of Surapol Kiatchaiyakorn, who will be banned from running for office for a year. The commission ruled Surapol breached the election law by offering money to “a community” in exchange for votes.

Sawaeng added that the by-election will be held in May with the same set of candidates, bar Surapol, but declined to say whether it will fall before or after May 9 – the deadline for commissioners to certify the results of the March 24 elections.

Surapol said he was accused of vote-buying for hosting a merit-making ceremony at a local temple. He said he wasn’t involved in organizing the event, but that he privately gave 2,000 baht cash to a monk, adding that he had already explained himself to the commissioners and had the monk testify as his witness. Surapol said he was surprised by the news.

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“I did not expect such a ruling as I had already explained everything. I also wonder why the commission appears to selectively respond to complaints against certain parties,” he said. “I however accept the decision.”

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According to the election law, monks are not eligible voters. Surapol said he did not understand why giving money to a monk is considered vote-buying.

Surapol said he would propose a new candidate to run in his place. Commissioner Sawaeng however clarified later that no new candidates will be accepted in the by-election, meaning Pheu Thai Party will lose all votes from this constituency.

Results from the constituency on Election Day showed that Surapol won with 52,165 votes, followed by a Phalang Pracharath candidate who received 39,221 votes and a Future Forward candidate with 29,556 votes.