The Cost of Politics in Thailand: A Closer Look at MP Candidacy and Campaign Finance

How much does it truly cost to become a Member of Parliament (MP) in Thailand? Is entering parliamentary politics an insurmountable financial hurdle for ordinary citizens? With the rise of the Move Forward Party (now the People’s Party), has the landscape of candidate selection and campaign finance shifted? Or do entrenched local political dynasties still dominate the selection process for parliamentary candidates?

In this insightful podcast, Chanintorn Pensute, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Political Science, Chiang Mai University, explores these pressing questions. She discusses a fascinating report she co-authored with Pailin Phujeenaphan, Associate Professor and Dean at the same faculty. The report, entitled The Cost of Politics in Thailand, was published for the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and looks at the financial challenges faced by those seeking to enter politics in Thailand.

Also featured in the discussion is Duncan McCargo, President’s Chair in Global Affairs at Nanyang Technological University, who continues his active role in examining Thai politics. With his extensive research and insights, Duncan sheds light on the evolving dynamics of Thailand’s political landscape and the role of political parties in shaping the future.

Chanintorn’s expertise lies in electoral politics in Thailand, and she earned her PhD from the University of Leeds. Her work has been featured in Contemporary Southeast Asia and other prestigious journals.

Click here to listen to the podcast and read the full report.