The Election Commission (EC) has approved the Bhumjaithai Party's use of outsiders as campaign assistants and their promotion as a cabinet to attract votes, provided these assistants are officially appointed. The EC is preparing to investigate five video clips suspected of illegal election campaigning and disclosed that 34 more cases await review, including the use of the monarchy in campaigns and incitement.
On 13 Jan 2026 GMT+7, the Office of the Election Commission responded to inquiries from the Bhumjaithai Party to ensure compliance with election laws, political party laws, and EC regulations in four key areas: 1. The party's announcement of a personnel management policy selecting knowledgeable, capable, and honest individuals as a cabinet, including displaying their names and images to the public for election consideration via various media. The EC concluded this is permissible under Section 74 of the 2018 Election Act and its 2023 amendment. However, displaying individuals' names and images must comply with Articles 6, 7, and 8 of the EC's regulations on campaigning methods and prohibited conduct under the 2018 Election Act and its 2022 amendment.
2. Regarding campaign assistants who are not party members but are appointed and assigned as managers responsible for campaign policy, with detailed knowledge of the policies used during campaigning, the EC stated this is allowed. However, the party must report details about these assistants, their roles, and compensation as specified in Articles 4 and 14 of the EC's regulations on campaigning and prohibited conduct under the 2018 Election Act and its 2022 amendment. Additionally, there must be no violations of Sections 28 and 29 of the 2017 Political Parties Act and its 2023 amendment.
3. For campaign assistants appointed by the Bhumjaithai Party who are not party members but assigned as campaign policy managers, the EC ruled they cannot have their photographs on the party's campaign signage. This is because they are not official candidates for prime minister, party leader, or party members as defined by law and regulations.
4. Regarding appointed campaign assistants assigned as policy managers who are delegated by the party leader to participate in debates or express views on invited programs, the EC affirmed this is permissible. The party must notify the EC about the assistants' details, roles, and compensation per EC regulations. Participation must not be on a platform for direct policy competition among parties as outlined in Section 81, paragraph 2 of the 2018 Election Act and Articles 14 and 15 of the EC's regulations on election advertising support. Furthermore, such individuals must not have disqualifications under Sections 28 and 29 of the Political Parties Act.
At 3:00 p.m. at the Election Commission office, Mr. Sa-nga Boonmee, EC Secretary-General, disclosed that he attended a meeting with the Electronic Election Campaign Monitoring Task Force (E-War Room), which included representatives from the Royal Thai Police and the Ministry of Digital Economy. They reviewed five video and audio clips related to election campaigning. If deemed violations of electronic election laws, the EC will order corrections, changes, or removal of the content. If the acts violate election and political party laws in ways that compromise election fairness or legality, the matter will be referred to the EC Secretary-General for investigation and resolution under EC regulations.
Mr. Sa-nga added that the meeting also presented 34 more cases for the electronic campaign monitoring team to consider: 1. Eight cases potentially violating Article 17 of the EC's 2018 campaign methods and prohibited conduct regulations, involving use of the monarchy in campaigning; 2. Twenty-six cases possibly violating Article 18(3), involving use of violent, aggressive, vulgar, or inciting language.