Bangkok Politics in 2025: Beacon of Thai Pluralism

Bangkok has always been ahead of other parts of Thailand in terms of local democracy. Elections and decentralisation were inaugurated in the capital in 1975, well before polls were held for Provincial Administrative Organisations in 1997. This makes Bangkok a pioneer in popular representation. The most recent Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Governor and Bangkok Municipal Council (BMC) elections, held in 2022, demonstrate that Bangkok’s pioneering pluralism has persisted. That trend appears set to continue in 2025 with Chadchart Sittipunt, the popular, independent-minded incumbent seeking re-election against a strong challenge from the well-liked and progressive People’s Party (PP). 

Local politics in Thailand’s capital revolve around the BMA and BMC. The Governor oversees the administration of the city and formulates policies and legislation that the BMC must approve. The governor must also coordinate with the national government, especially the Ministry of Interior. Barring the junta-appointed period from 2014 to 2022, the position of the governor and posts in the BMC have regularly been up for election since 1985.

Judging by municipality election results over time, it appears that Bangkokians have generally preferred (and elected) governors possessing an independent streak or sometimes dissenting from national governments. They also prefer someone who has an image of cleanliness, integrity, and incorruptibility. Governors also tended to be linked with or were members of Bangkok-based factions of political parties: Democrat, Palang Dharma and Thai Citizen. The current governor fits this pattern (Table 1).

Bangkok Governors: Clean, With a Streak of Independence

Table 1: Elected Governors of Bangkok

Number	Name	Term	Political Group
1	Tamanoon Thienngern	1975-1977	Democrat
2	Chamlong Srimuang	1985-1992	Independent/Palang Dharma
3	Krisda Arunvongse na Ayudhya	1992-1996	Palang Dharma
4	Bhichit Rattakul	1996-2000	Independent (Democrat)
5	Samak Sundaravej	2000-2004	Independent (Thai Citizen)
6	Apirak Kosayodhin	2004-2008	Democrat
7	Sukhumphand Paribatra	2009-2016	Democrat
8	Chadchart Sittipunt	2022-Present	Independent (PT)

In the 2022 poll, anti-junta, well-organised Independent Chadchart was elected as the city’s 17^th governor. He won with 52.7 per cent of the vote, putting him miles ahead of the other four candidates. Thaksin Shinawatra’s PT won the lion’s share of BMC seats (see seat allocations in Table 2). PT’s BMC performance was the strongest for pro-Thaksin parties since 2000. This was due primarily to its connections to the charismatic Chadchart. PT also benefited from the unpopularity of junta-leader-turned-prime minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha (2014-2023), and the weaknesses of the Democrats.

PT Hogs the Seats

Table 2: Political Groups represented in the BMC since 2022

PT	28
Move Forward (People’s)	11
Democrat	7
Thai Sang Thai	1
Rak Krungthep Group	1
Zen Dai	1
Independent	1
Total	50

Nevertheless, newcomer Move Forward (now PP) is nipping at PT’s heels in the Bangkok stakes. The former came in second in the number of BMC seats in 2022. In the 2023 General Elections, it won all but one constituency in the capital. It is possible that the urban and maverick grouping could overtake PT in the next BMC elections. The current PT-leaning BMC and the BMA government will have to depend on Chadchart to win the 2026 poll.

While Chadchart’s continued governorship would be supported by PT, a charismatic candidate from PP could threaten his re-election. 

Chadchart has long been widely admired. Born in Bangkok, he served as transport minister (2012-2014) in the Yingluck Shinawatra government (2011-2014). During that time, he was photographed wearing a black jersey, carrying a plastic bag of food, and walking to a Buddhist temple to earn merits. He also became known for his dedication to fitness and advocacy of public transport, which he uses. Though not required to do so, Chadchart left PT in 2019. It is likely that he realised Bangkokians’ general disdain for the PT; hence his run for the Bangkok governorship as an Independent.

Since becoming governor in 2022, Chadchart has forged an image of a transformative figure with a propensity for bringing different sides together. He has resolved over 700,000 of the 860,000 complaints submitted through the governor’s digital platform Traffy Fondue. His historical closeness to PT has helped him cooperate with the post-2023 PT-led national coalition, especially given PT’s majority in the BMC. 

The governor has touted his administration’s accomplishments, including flood reduction, the upgrading of city sidewalks, dust reduction, the dismissal of corrupt city officials, and decentralisation of budgets to fit local needs.

Nevertheless, several issues have continued to challenge Chadchart. While Chadchart has addressed many issues facing Bangkok, some voters think that he has not been sufficiently effective in resolving the city’s challenges. These include Bangkok’s incessant traffic problems, refuse collection, the procurement of overpriced fitness equipment, and a perception among many Bangkokians that the governor tends not to complete whatever projects he starts. The governor’s recent decision to run for re-election in 2026 has spurred him to address these issues. He also personally oversaw the BMA’s response to the March 2025 earthquake-related collapse of the State Audit building — though he had to apologise for the tardiness in state responses.

While Chadchart’s continued governorship would be supported by PT, a charismatic candidate from PP could threaten his re-election. This is because Bangkok voters have generally disliked politicians linked to Thaksin. They might see Chadchart, theoretically an independent, as being dependent on the current PT government. The PP has a strong base in Bangkok, especially among younger voters, but the party has not coalesced around a 2026 gubernatorial candidate. Moreover, it is currently doubtful that PP’s 2022 gubernatorial candidate Wiroj Lakkannadisorn will run for that post again in 2026. Chadchart will be helped by his incumbency, which means that PP might have to wait until the 2030 election to win the Bangkok governorship (Chadchart’s tenure as governor is limited to two terms).

To win re-election in 2026, Chadchart needs a sprint finish of successes until that poll. Regardless, in 2025, it is apparent that Bangkok politics has become an intensifying contest between Thailand’s two most progressive major parties (PT and PP) though PT is currently dominant. Meanwhile, the conservative Democrats have lost their appeal —at least for now. Thus, Bangkok politics reflect a pattern toward increasing pluralism currently and for the future.

2025/156