Theerarat confirmed that the Pheu Thai Party will field candidates to compete for seats on the Bangkok Metropolitan Council, confident in retaining their established stronghold despite changes in the political landscape.
At 11:45 a.m. on 5 May at the Government House, Ms. Theerarat Samretwanich, Deputy Leader of the Pheu Thai Party overseeing Bangkok, spoke about preparations to field candidates for the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC). She said that for BMC seats previously held by Pheu Thai, the party still insists on contesting them. They have requested permission to use the party logo, which has been granted without objection. Therefore, candidates can run under the Pheu Thai banner.
When asked if the party will field candidates in all 50 districts, Ms. Theerarat replied that they will not cover all districts. Although they have personnel available, they need to assess the differences in each area. Of the 20 previous BMC members from Pheu Thai, some remain, while others have shifted to run as independents or with other groups. There will be a selection process including both incumbent and new candidates to strengthen the team. They aim to finalize the candidate list soon. Currently, several groups are working on this, but initially, at least those former BMC members who have not moved elsewhere are committed to continuing. Roughly 20 names are in hand, comprising those working with the party, including current council members and those who have nominated themselves as local representatives.
When asked if she is confident of securing the same number of BMC seats as before, Ms. Theerarat said she remains confident. Pheu Thai's strength lies in continuous local work, engaging with citizens and bringing issues into the resolution process. One key role of the BMC members is reviewing Bangkok Metropolitan Council legislation. Many policies announced in 2022 have been pushed forward, and she believes the work done will be well received by the public. However, she noted that voter behavior for BMC elections differs from that for parliamentary elections, as they involve different variables.
When asked if she fears the BMC election outcome might shift as dramatically as the parliamentary elections, Ms. Theerarat insisted the focus must remain on serving the public. Regarding voter response, she hopes the process will follow the correct and appropriate path. The Pheu Thai Party is a political institution committed to continuing its work regardless of whether the public chooses them or not.