Chadchart has submitted his resignation as Governor of Bangkok, effective 5 PM today (18 May). He pledged to work until the very last second before fully returning to civilian life, cycling and taking the subway home. He vowed to run for a second term as governor.
On 18 May 2026, Chadchart Sitthiphan, Governor of Bangkok, told reporters after announcing his resignation to run for a second term as governor at 5 PM today, that he submitted his resignation this morning, effective immediately at 5 PM. He explained that he must travel abroad tonight to attend his son Sanpiti Sitthiphan’s graduation ceremony, so resigning now avoids interfering with official duties or requiring an acting governor. He confirmed his intention to run in the upcoming Bangkok gubernatorial election.
For this election, the focus will be on productivity policies, as we now compete globally. The goal is to use fewer resources to achieve the highest output, enhancing city efficiency through technology, encompassing three areas: happiness, opportunity, and hope. Recently, happiness and quality of life have improved, so going forward, appropriate technology will be used to boost Bangkok as an economic hub competing globally.
When asked if he was concerned about any gaps during his resignation period, Chadchart said it was fine. It is a matter for his team and civil servants who will remain in their posts, continuing policies. This is a normal aspect of democracy, allowing citizens to choose new leaders. Previously, civil servants and the team have performed well.
"You have to keep working because they pay you up to the last second. There are many concerns."
Chadchart added that this morning he visited Don Mueang district, which has been one of the worst flood areas since his first year in office. The road works there should be completed as planned. He wanted to check on this area because it remains a concern. Some projects, like the wastewater treatment ponds in Thonburi, have progressed slowly. He asked the Bangkok Permanent Secretary to continue overseeing these and to pass them on to the new administration. The team assisting his campaign will mostly be the same, with some new members. He thanked the team, civil servants, and employees for their excellent work over nearly four years.
When a reporter asked if he still rated himself 5 out of 10, Chadchart said he gave himself 5 because he should not judge himself. Self-rating is impossible, but he gave his team 8 points and invited others to rate him instead, as opinions vary. His greatest satisfaction over four years has been improving responsiveness and transforming public service delivery. Systems like Traffy Fondue have made civil servants more attentive to citizens and greatly increased efficiency. Previously, resolving an issue could take about two months; over the past four years, the average has dropped to 1.9 days.
Therefore, the city can respond faster to citizens' requests, and people feel more empowered as decentralization has increased. Public trust in the government has grown. When he first took office, citizens distrusted Bangkok authorities, associating them with corruption and unresponsiveness. Officials also distrusted citizens and often ignored complaints. Now, structural changes have shifted the focus toward citizens without changing laws, using appropriate technology that requires no investment but yields valuable returns. The next step is to be more proactive—rather than waiting for citizens to report problems, the government must seek out issues.
"I announced my candidacy yesterday—nothing special. Life goes on, just another day. After 5 PM, I won’t be governor anymore but a full citizen. I will probably ride my bicycle to take the subway home as usual."