General Rangsee Kitiyanansap, prime ministerial candidate from the Economic Party, presented his vision in a debate to solve Thailand’s major problems: the economic crisis and corruption. He proposed amending anti-corruption laws to impose the death penalty on both bribe-givers and receivers, without exception.
At 17:30 on 23 Dec 2025 GMT+7, Thairath TV hosted the first debate ahead of the 2026 general election, moderated by Kai Pongsakorn Satyaprasert. The eight prime ministerial candidates present were: Natthaphong Ruangpanyawut, leader of the People's Party and candidate; Yotsanan Wongsawat, Pheu Thai candidate; Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party and candidate; Teerachai Phuwanatnarunban, deputy leader and candidate of the Palang Pracharath Party; Peeraphan Saleerathwipak, leader of Ruamthai Sangchat Party and candidate; Suchatveera Suwansawat, leader of Thai Kao Mai Party and candidate; Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, leader of Thai Sang Thai Party and candidate; and General Rangsee Kitiyanansap, leader of the Economic Party and candidate. Meanwhile, the Kla Tham and Bhumjaithai parties did not send candidates to participate.
. General Rangsee Kitiyanansap, leader of the Economic Party and prime ministerial candidate, said that Thailand faces two major problems today: the economic crisis and corruption. The Economic Party has prepared policies to address the national economic crisis. Our biggest challenge is debt.
Today, the Economic Party plans to implement two major projects: 1. A high-speed rail project extending from Vientiane to Nong Khai, then from Nong Khai to Bangkok. From Bangkok, it will branch west to Kanchanaburi and Tak provinces.
To the east, it will branch to the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), then south to connect with Malaysia’s high-speed rail. If successful, this rail line will make us a rail transport hub. Along the route, there will be both industrial and agricultural estates, which will help our farmers improve their livelihoods.
The second project is the Ocean Link, a route connecting the Indian Ocean through the Andaman Sea into the Gulf of Thailand, then reaching the Pacific Ocean. This will also create industrial and agricultural estates. If both projects succeed, the population’s per capita income could rise from $7,000 to about $20,000 per year.
In addition to tackling the national crisis through these major projects, corruption remains a significant problem. The Economic Party will amend anti-corruption laws to impose the death penalty on both bribe-givers and receivers, with no reductions in either death or imprisonment sentences.
With such strict penalties, legal system reforms must follow, covering the entire process from start to finish—from police to corrections departments. The police will have separate investigative powers. There is also a plan to establish a central forensic unit to gather evidence and conduct investigations.