Political parties are ramping up their rallies across the country as the election is fast approaching.
Advance voting will take place on May 7 and the election date is on May 14.
Ruam Thai Sang Chart
Ruam Thai Sang Chart PM Candidate General Prayut Chan-o-cha led a rally at the Thai-Japanese Stadium yesterday.
He announced 16 economic policies to increase the country’s income to four trillion baht per year by aiming to increase the country’s GDP expansion from around 3% to 5% per year, increasing people’s income by additional 20,000 baht per year, and creating 625,000 new jobs.
Other policies involve:
- The continuation with the redevelopment of the Eastern Economic Corridor and the development of four new special economic zones
- The continuation of government stimulus measures including the co-payment scheme and the scheme to promote secondary tourism destinations
- Lowering oil and electricity prices
- Give away one million cows to create jobs
- Measures to postpone debt payments
- More welfare and cash handouts for the elderly, parents and low-income earners
- More money in welfare card
- Educational scholarships for all districts
- Fix land-related laws to create jobs
- Set up a single command center to deal with the smog problem
Move Forward Party
Not far away from the Thai-Japanese Stadium, the Move Forward Party also held a rally at Central Lat Prao.
The rally faced a hiccup at the start as the mall refused the party’s request to use its private space in front of the mall as the party did not ask for permission first.
This led to an impromptu rally on a footpath which caused traffic congestion in front of the mall yesterday evening.
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the Progressive Movement who is helping the party with its election campaign, told supporters at the rally to vote for the party if they want to get rid of the military’s interference in politics.
He also said the grade 5 book, Par-Tee, which has been criticized for outdated teachings, is an example of the state’s attempts to prevent future dissidents.
Photos via Kan Sangtong and Additional Report by Erich Parpart