Bangkok: Academics view the results of the Provincial Administrative Organization elections as not a reflection of the general election field. Academics point out that the results of the provincial administrative organization elections are not a reflection of the results of the future general elections because the factors are different. However, they are lessons that the three parties, Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithai, and Prachachon, must review.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Yuthaporn Isarachai, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, stated that the election of the mayor and members of the provincial administrative organization may not clearly reflect or overlap with the larger general elections. This is due to varied factors such as election rules, number of voters, political families, and voter decisions. While national and local politics have different perspectives, voters in national elections may focus on prime minister candidates, political party policies, and party-list MPs. In contrast, local politics often center on solving local-level issues like public health and utilities. Therefore, success in local elections does not necessarily predict outcomes in national politics, although they might indicate which political figures are influential in specific areas.
Mr. Yuthaporn further elaborated on how political parties might use local election results to strategize for national elections. For the Pheu Thai Party, which anticipated winning about 10 seats, there is a need to review traditional political strategies involving Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra as a campaign leader. The party did not win by a landslide in several areas, such as Chiang Mai Province, and reaching the target of 16 seats proved challenging.
The Bhumjaithai Party, expected to secure about 8-9 seats, ended with 9 seats, capitalizing on local political engagement and political families. In Sisaket Province, their candidate won decisively, but nationally, most MPs from Sisaket belong to the Pheu Thai Party. This indicates that voters differentiate between local and national politics, providing opportunities to different parties at each level without overlap.
Regarding the People's Party, Mr. Yuthaporn noted their single seat win in Lamphun Province as a chance to showcase their approach to local governance. This victory provides an opportunity to demonstrate tangible outcomes from their policies, aiming to resonate with the broader national electorate.