The Prachachon Party held a major rally in Pattaya where Nattapong stressed that Pattaya can change if voter turnout exceeds 70%. Meanwhile, Ittiwat declared a fight against the old system, promising Pattaya’s budget will reach the people directly without favoring vested interests.
On 24 June 2026, reporters reported that on 23 June in Pattaya, Chonburi Province, the Prachachon Party held a major rally for the mayoral and city council (S.M.) elections. Leading figures and campaign assistants attended in large numbers, including Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, party leader; Benja Saengchan, former party-list MP and campaign assistant; and Padipat Santipada, former first deputy speaker of the House and campaign assistant.
Benja emphasized the importance of the Pattaya election on 28 June, noting it is not just about choosing leaders for a special administrative area with a huge budget of tens of billions, but an opportunity for Pattaya residents to shape the city's future together. She pointed out long-neglected issues such as crime, traffic jams, flooding, water shortages with expensive rates affecting tourism, and local businesses being overtaken by multinational and gray capital groups. She also stressed that current development and benefits remain concentrated in the hands of a few families, neglecting original communities like Naklua and grassroots workers and night shift workers who are key to Pattaya’s economy.
"We see benefits going only to a few groups, a few people, a few families who receive budget allocations for events, music festivals spread across Pattaya. But do those working in nighttime services, selling goods on the beach or in Pattaya markets ever have a chance to participate or host major world-class events? This is Pattaya today—outsiders see only a few capital groups growing and profiting from Pattaya residents while ignoring the people of Pattaya entirely."
Meanwhile, Padipat, former deputy speaker, reflected on the real Pattaya behind the scenes of the world-class tourist city, where locals still face chronic problems including substandard infrastructure, never-completed road repairs, mounting garbage, rising living costs, and issues with international mafia. He emphasized that a true world-class tourist city is measured not by the number of hotels or entertainment venues but by livability, fair and comprehensive public transport, and transparent, effective city management.
"We will have Ittiwat and all the city council members move forward proudly with the power you grant, carrying out the mission to protect Pattaya residents, ensuring their safety and stable lives, providing everyone with job opportunities and life chances, regardless of who they are. They are Pattaya people, and this is Pattaya for everyone."
Nattapong, Prachachon Party leader, stated that from the Future Forward Party, Move Forward, to Prachachon Party, those who create real change are the Thai people themselves. Their political work is straightforward, with the people above and the party below, done without owing favors to anyone. On 28 June, if everyone wants a better Pattaya with transparent budgets and council members who are your own children to manage a 10-billion-baht four-year budget honestly, then a sincere mayor who cares for everyone is needed; otherwise, Pattaya cannot truly change.
Therefore, if you have relatives, children, or friends eligible to vote in Pattaya but must work elsewhere, I encourage you to bring them back to vote. If voter turnout exceeds 70%, Pattaya will definitely change—but besides returning to vote, they must also vote for the correct candidate number.
Nattapong emphasized why to vote for number 1: previously, the orange party was often criticized for never governing well, only talking but not delivering. However, those who have cared for laborers in the service sector, passed labor protection laws, extended maternity leave to 120 days, fought expensive electricity monopolized by vested interests, demanded fair electricity rates despite lawsuits against MPs, and advocated for the future of youth to avoid forced conscription while modernizing the military—all are from the Prachachon Party.
"Those who see all people equally and have consistently demanded equality, even as opposition without majority in parliament, spoke repeatedly until society supported and passed marriage equality laws—one of the few in ASEAN—are from the Prachachon Party. Those demanding transparent social security, professional management, and proper use of insured persons' funds for welfare are also from Prachachon."
Nattapong added that they entered politics to create change and improve everyone’s quality of life. Politics is not about positions or power but about making life better for all. If everyone trusts the council members and Ittiwat, he guarantees that over the next four years, under Prachachon’s leadership, Pattaya’s problems like flooding, traffic, education, and fair-priced water on Koh Larn will be better addressed, and waste management improved.
"Today, Ittiwat volunteers to be Pattaya’s mayor under Prachachon. Many problems in Pattaya can be solved, but some require courage to confront—gray issues, hidden corruption. I believe Ittiwat is courageous enough to engage in politics. With five days left, I urge everyone to consider the policies, vision, determination, and commitment of the next mayoral candidate."
Ittiwat Watthanastasan, Prachachon Party’s candidate number 1 for Pattaya mayor, said that after a full month of campaigning, they have aimed to personally bring their 37 policies to every resident, whether in alleys, beaches, communities, or inaccessible streets. They have listened to Pattaya residents about their hopes and issues, each with varying happiness and problems.
"We met an elderly man who has lived at the end of an alley for 25 years and had to move belongings due to flooding 28 times without any help. We met tired hotel staff after work, yet Pattaya never cared for them. We met vendors who bring their children along because they have nowhere to leave them. We spoke with Koh Larn residents about irregular water supply forcing them to buy expensive water. We saw students waking earlier than others because they must travel 30–40 kilometers to school."
Ittiwat said that despite different appearances, jobs, and birthplaces, their eyes reveal the same truth: this city does not care for them. When he was a Pattaya city council member, he listened to these problems and raised them in the council for administration to act on, but they remained unresolved and have accumulated. If the annual 2-billion-baht budget meant to solve residents’ problems isn’t effective, the money is like it disappears into thin air.
"The core issue is the old system favoring one group, always helping some and lacking fairness and equality. If the system worked well, all these problems would have ended. This system has caused Pattaya’s problems to persist, making people accustomed to flooding at the same spots when it rains and traffic jams daily. This pain is what everyone endures, and it pains me deeply."
Pattaya generates enormous tourism revenue and serves tourists well but fails to care for its residents, who have long suffered problems. Ittiwat stressed that this election requires someone with the will to confront the system causing these problems, someone who understands the issues, was born here, and holds firm ideals. He volunteers to fight this system for Pattaya’s people.
Ittiwat described that the mayor must prioritize Pattaya residents in governance, develop and solve problems with consideration for the people, provide equal, fair services without bribes or extortion. Everyone should have year-round income, and the city must not favor any one capital group. The annual 2.4-billion-baht budget must reach Pattaya residents as much as possible.
"I believe I can achieve this because I come without debts or obligations to anyone. I don’t need to use the budget for personal gain but to repay the people of Pattaya. Together, we can change Pattaya. A city cannot change itself; it changes because of its people."
Ittiwat concluded by saying that in this election, every citizen’s voice matters equally, regardless of where they are, their occupation, or social status. If you believe Pattaya can be better, on 28 June, let’s change Pattaya’s destiny together.
