Phuket MP from the Prachachon Party pointed out that the dismissal of Phuket's governor reflects deep wounds in the centralized state structure, allowing chronic problems to persist and supporting the election of governors by the people themselves rather than appointments made centrally.
On 16 June 2026, Mr. Chalermpong Saengdee, Phuket MP from the Prachachon Party (PPR), commented on the Cabinet's decision to transfer Mr. Nirat Pongsitthaworn, Governor of Phuket, to the position of Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior. He noted that in less than a year, Phuket has seen frequent changes and transfers of its provincial governors. Some governors were still learning and understanding local issues when they were transferred, while others had yet to finalize coordination with various agencies before having to pack up and move on to other duties.
Mr. Chalermpong stated that this problem is not about individuals but is deeply rooted in the administrative structure of the government. Phuket generates enormous revenue and drives the Thai economy, serving as a world-class tourist city and the economic center of the Andaman region in southern Thailand. Yet, Phuket faces accumulated problems such as traffic congestion, insufficient water supply, waste management, urban planning, improper land use, and the influence of powerful figures and foreign mafias, all of which affect the quality of life of its residents.
These complex issues cannot be solved by short-term, superficial management. A rapidly growing city like Phuket needs leaders who can work strategically, plan long-term, and remain responsible for outcomes continuously. However, the current central bureaucracy often turns governors into mere 'transit governors'—those who stay briefly before being transferred, who come to await retirement, to use the position as a stepping stone to higher office, or, at worst, to seek personal gain. This lack of continuity burdens the people of Phuket, who suffer the consequences.
The Phuket MP from the Prachachon Party further said society must seriously ask whether it is time for Phuket residents to have the right to determine their own city's future and direction. Is it time for the direct election of Phuket's governor by the people, so that city administrators are truly connected to residents according to the principles of decentralization? If a governor performs well, the people are ready to support and re-elect them; if not, the people can remove them through the ballot box at the end of their term.
“The election of governors should not be a privilege or opportunity exclusive to Bangkok residents. People in all provinces deserve this right equally. The future of a global tourist city like Phuket should not be determined solely by the central government. It is time for the people of Phuket to choose their leaders, to shape Phuket’s future with their own hands, because our city, our future, should be decided by Phuket residents themselves,” Mr. Chalermpong concluded.