A record high of 31 candidates have registered to contest the first Bangkok gubernatorial election in nine years, either on political party tickets or as independents. The five days of registration closed at 4.30pm today (Monday).
The candidates include 25 men and 6 women, with the oldest being 72 and the youngest, 43.
382 people have registered to contest the city councillor elections, to be held on the same day, May 22nd. The oldest candidate is 82 and the youngest 25.
According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the number of candidates vying for the governor’s post is the highest since the first election was held in 1975. 25 candidates contested the last election, in 2013, when then Democrat candidate M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra won the election. 29 candidates registered for the election in 1996, when Bhichit Rattakul, of the Democrat party, won.
This will be the 11th gubernatorial election in Bangkok.
Chairman of the Bangkok election commission, Somchai Surakarnkul, said all the 31 candidates will be invited to the government complex on Chaeng Wattana tomorrow to be briefed on the election guidelines.
He said that the Bangkok election commission will announce the list of qualified candidates on April 11th. Those who fail the qualification screening can appeal before April 14th.