Abhisit campaigns in the ancient capital city, promoting a model to unlock local governance, develop rail transport systems, reduce traffic congestion, and advance historical tourism. He supports the Bank of Thailand in strictly controlling cash withdrawals to prevent "grey capital" and vote-buying.
At 7:00 a.m. on 29 January 2026 in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, along with Korn Chatikavanij, Kanjadee Liao Pairoj, three Democrat Party prime ministerial candidates, and Chaiwut Bannawat, party secretary-general, visited and met with local residents amid a warm welcome. A highlight was a memorable moment when 16-year-old Thanthai, a youth, proudly showed a photo of himself with Abhisit when he was only three years old, recalling their meeting at the Sirikit National Convention Center Book Fair. Upon hearing that Abhisit would come to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, he came to offer support.
Abhisit spoke about his vision for developing Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, stating the party aims to harness the area's cultural and historical potential to generate tangible income for local residents. He proposed decentralizing authority to local governments so those who best understand local issues can fully manage budgets and tourism development through a one-stop service tailored to local needs, reducing duplication among ministries. At the central government level, if elected, the party will support infrastructure, especially rail transport systems, to facilitate convenient travel and promote open government data to enable the private sector to plan and enhance tourism businesses effectively.
When asked about vote-buying in the southern region in this election, Abhisit said he recently visited the south, where people clearly committed to honest politics. They pledged serious opposition to vote-buying. The goal is for the Democrat Party to lead a government characterized by honesty, prioritizing the public interest and avoiding social conflict and division. This commitment will guide the party's policies for people in all regions.
At 11:00 a.m., Abhisit, accompanied by Sakolthee Phattiyakul, deputy party leader, and Apimuk Chantawanich, candidate for Bangkok MP in District 3 (Bang Kho Laem–Yan Nawa), number 3, visited and met with residents at Seri 2 Market on Charoen Krung Road. The atmosphere was lively, with a warm reception from the public.
Confident in district-level polls, the Democrat Party has a chance to win in many areas.
Abhisit commented on the party's reception in Bangkok, noting that in-depth district-level polls show a significant increase in Democrat Party popularity. Many electoral districts have clear chances of victory, consistent with his field observations sensing public confidence. Despite challenges in the last election, the party's base is returning and steadily growing.
Regarding election strategies where some encourage voting to block certain parties, Abhisit said that, based on factual district-level analysis, the natural voting decisions of the Democrat Party's strong base will be the key factor reflecting the true intentions of Bangkok voters most accurately.
Promoting a policy of "professional" and smooth national administration.
Asked about other parties introducing candidates claiming expertise but not using certain groups, Abhisit said it is each party's right to select campaign personnel. However, the Democrat Party remains committed to candidates with both political experience and expertise, believing that successful policy implementation in administration requires people who understand the political process from the start to ensure smooth and effective management. "For the Democrat Party, our approach is to select personnel who have political experience and have contributed to policy-making. We believe this approach facilitates smoother work upon entering administration. Often, experts who join without prior political involvement face challenges managing political matters, which are unavoidable in policy implementation. This is a concept any party can adopt. The Democrat Party has had outsiders, but mostly those involved with the party beforehand."
Supports the Bank of Thailand's proactive measures to curb 'grey capital' and vote-buying.
Abhisit commented on the Bank of Thailand's move to set limits on cash withdrawals to prevent corruption, emphasizing that the Democrat Party has long supported cracking down on "grey capital" and abnormal transactions, which severely damage the economy.
"I am pleased the central bank is prioritizing this issue. Managing financial flows is a crucial starting point for combating election corruption."
Abhisit also urged the Election Commission to work more proactively, especially by cooperating with the Bank of Thailand to monitor unusual cash transactions during elections. He warned that waiting to investigate after elections makes gathering evidence difficult. The Election Commission must boldly use its authority to maintain election integrity and fairness.