Major and mid-sized parties wound-up their general election campaigns in Bangkok on Friday evening with pleas from their prime ministerial candidates to vote them into power.
At the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, United Thai Nation’s prime ministerial candidate, incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, told his supporters that, after eight years in office, he is tired but is willing to continue, in order to bring about peace and order in the country and to help every sector of the Thai society become strong and to prosper.
Thailand has changed a lot in the past eight years under his leadership, but many people remain poor, said General Prayut, adding that unresolved and pressing problems must be fixed and that will require unity among the people.
He said he could not accept sudden change in Thai society. “We will not let anyone ruin the roots of Thai society, the Thai family tradition,” he said, adding that he cannot fight alone and needs their help.
At a rally held at the Muang Thong Thani complex, Pheu Thai party’s prime ministerial candidate Srettha Thavisin urged his supporters to vote the party into Government and make him the 40th prime minister of Thailand, to guide the country to prosperity.
“Two days from now, a new chapter in the history of Thailand will be written – the day when Thai people will collectively walk out of the “black hole” in which we have been trapped for eight years,” he told his cheering supporters.
Meanwhile, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, another of the party’s prime ministerial candidates, told her audience at the same venue to vote for No. 29 when they walk into the polling booths on Sunday.
She said that any of the party’s three prime ministerial candidates can become the leader and the party will give him or her the support they need, adding that the party has learned painful lessons from the party’s two predecessors, Thai Rak Thai and People’s Power, being dissolved by the Constitutional Court.
General Prawit Wongsuwan, leader and prime ministerial candidate of the Palang Pracharath party, asked supporters at the Bangkok youth centre’s stadium in Din Daeng to support the party, so he could fulfil his final mission in life, which is to give back to the motherland.
He also stressed the party’s main policies, to overcome political polarisation and poverty.
Meanwhile, Sakoltee Phattiyakul, an executive committee member, made clear that the party will not work with any party which rejects the three main pillars of the country, which are the Nation, the Religion and the Monarchy.
Democrat party leader and prime ministerial candidate Jurin Laksanawisit told party supporters, at its final rally at the city square in front of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, to save democracy from cheaters.
The Democrat party is not a family party for the family’s benefit, he said, apparently referring to the Pheu Thai party.
Pita Limjaroenrat, leader and prime ministerial candidate of the Move Forward party, told the audience that he is ready to become Thailand’s next prime minister, as he stressed the party’s dream to end the vicious cycle of coups by reforming the military and placing it under civilian control.
He said that the next prime minister will be prime minister under a democratic system with the King as head of state, but with proper powers to maintain good relationships between the Monarchy and the people.
Sudarat Keyuraphan, leader and prime ministerial candidate of the Thai Sang Thai party, told supporters that the party upholds the democratic system with the King as head of state, but rejects coups, political conflicts, Prayut and Prawit.
