Patcharapol Panrak
With its large military population, Sattahip has
never been fertile ground for any “red shirt”-affiliated political
party. But with the July 3 election just weeks away, Puea Thai Party
candidates put on their best face in a push through the Royal Thai Naval
Base area.
Adm. Surapol Chandang, Puea Thai’s Zone 8 candidate,
in fact, drew a good-sized crowd June 8 as he introduced himself to
residents of Najomtien on the outskirts of Pattaya.
Adm. Surapol Chandang, Puea Thai’s Zone 8 candidate,
goes door-to-door in Sattahip soliciting votes/
Surapol said he’d decided to seek votes by going
door-to-door, appealing to voters, debunking rumors that Puea Thai -
backed by billionaire fugitive ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra - is
trying to buy the election by bribing voters.
The admiral pledged he would never buy votes and
explained that doing so is a toxic policy for Puea Thai, which was
created after two previous iterations were disbanded by courts for
illegal vote buying.
He said people should vote for him and Puea Thai if they are
dissatisfied with the current Democratic Party-led government and want
change. He also warned people to carefully consider votes to candidates
from small parties, as their policies may not be viable because small
parties cannot have power unless they align with larger ones.
