Chadchart still coy about second term

Political environment 'highly competitive'

PUBLISHED : 8 May 2026 at 05:02

WRITER: Supoj Wancharoen

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Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt says he's considering running for a second term in office but no formal decision has been made.

"I may have the chance to continue, but I want to do my job as governor as best as I can until the end of the term first," he said on Thursday at City Hall, adding that any official announcement on the matter would come later.

Mr Chadchart, who assumed office on May 22, 2022, emphasised that emerging candidates in the upcoming gubernatorial race were a positive sign for democracy, giving residents a wider choice and encouraging new ideas for urban development.

He added that he welcomed political competition and was not concerned about rival campaigns already taking shape.

Chaiwat Sathawornwichit, a deputy leader of the progressive People's Party (PP), has declared his candidacy in the race.

A party spokesman said late last month that if he is elected the party would focus on revamping the Bangkok Administration Act to allow governors to deal with problems like floods and traffic jams without certain restrictions.

Other potential candidates include Mallika Boonmeetrakool Mahasook, a journalist-turned independent politician.

Mr Chadchart at City Hall on Thursday noted that Bangkok's political environment was highly competitive, pointing to strong support for the PP in recent national elections, which he said meant no candidate could expect an easy victory.

"I am not confident or complacent. Everything depends on the people," Mr Chadchart said, adding that his administration's performance over the past four years would ultimately be judged by voters.

He said he would continue to prioritise policies that combine large-scale infrastructure with smaller community-based improvements, supported by technology to improve efficiency in city services.

On financial management, Mr Chadchart highlighted what he described as a balanced budget approach, noting that Bangkok had recorded more than 5 billion baht in additional revenue in 2025 through cost control and improved collection.

He said these funds were being set aside as reserves for emergencies and debt obligations, including long-standing payments linked to the BTS Skytrain system worth more than 60,000 million baht.

Earlier in the day, Mr Chadchart chaired what he described as the final executive meeting of his current term, thanking senior officials, district directors and staff for their cooperation over the past four years.

He said Bangkok had improved in many areas, although progress remained incomplete.

"If I give myself a score, it would be five out of 10, while the team deserves eight out of 10," Mr Chadchart said, adding that continued effort was needed.

He concluded by calling for political neutrality among officials ahead of upcoming elections, stressing fairness in both the gubernatorial and council races.

Mr Chadchart's term will end on May 21. Elections for the Bangkok governor and Bangkok Metropolitan Council will be held simultaneously on June 28.

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- KEYWORDS

- Chadchart sittipunt

- Bangkok governor election

- Bangkok metropolitan administration

- Bangkok politics

- People's party

- Urban development

- Bangkok city hall