Somchai clarifies answers regarding four possible cases if the Bangkok Governor resigns before completing the term, questioning whether the election day must be postponed. He sees the most admirable thing as serving the full term and believes Bangkok residents will be open to anyone truly committed.
On 7 May 2026, regarding the case Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, hinted at resigning 1-2 days before the term ends, which will be on 21 May 2026 (read more:“Chadchart hints at resignation before 21 May term end, reveals personal duties may require absence”) this raised questions whether if the Bangkok Governor resigns early, the scheduled election for governor and Bangkok Council members on Sunday, 28 June 2026, set by the Election Commission (EC), would be postponed.
Mr. Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, former Election Commissioner, told Thairath Online news team that the first case, if resignation occurs before term ends, the election must be held within 60 days, changing from the usual 45 days when completing the full term, depending on the EC's decision on the date.
The second case is that Bangkok residents might have to vote twice. The first round would be for Bangkok Council members, as no resignation there and elections occur within 45 days after term ends; the other is the governor election, held within 60 days if resignation happens, which could delay the election by about 1-2 weeks.
The third case concerns campaign advertising expenses. If serving the full term, expenses incurred during this time are counted, including about 180 days before the election, but if resigning early, campaign expenses during that period would not be included.
The fourth case involves the use of Bangkok's administrative budget. There could be complaints alleging budget use for campaign purposes within 180 days before term ends, which might be considered wrongdoing; however, if resignation occurs before the term ends, such expenses would not be counted—a technicality.
"At this point, I believe the most admirable thing is to serve the full term because it means everyone knows well in advance the term's end date. So, completing the term allows the new elections for both the council and governor to happen simultaneously, under the same rules, with no one gaining advantage or disadvantage. Leaving early should be due to inability to serve or some problem, not as a tactic to solve personal issues when nearly finishing the term. That is inappropriate."
However, even if resignation happens before term completion requiring an election within 60 days, the EC can still declare the election date to be the same as the council election if deemed appropriate, though it is unclear how the EC will decide.
When asked about the governor candidates gradually announcing their bids, Somchai personally commented that Bangkok residents are open-minded toward anyone genuinely intending to serve Bangkok. He believes voters want to see who is serious and whether each candidate and their supporting party are committed to addressing Bangkok's issues effectively.
"Currently, the incumbent governor may have an advantage by having had the opportunity to show achievements, but that does not mean the advantage is insurmountable. I believe Bangkok residents remain open to interesting candidates with good policies and strong teams." .