General Rangsee Exposes Widespread Vote Buying: Up to 5,000 Baht per Vote

On January 30, 2024, General Rangsee Kittiyanasap, prime ministerial candidate and leader of the Setthakit (Economy) Party, exposed serious concerns about election fraud. He reported widespread vote buying occurring at rates of up to 5,000 baht per person across all regions of Thailand, including the North, Northeast, South, and Bangkok. Rangsee suggested the massive funds used for vote buying likely originate from "gray business" or scammer networks with over 200 billion baht in circulation. The buying method involves paying 2,000 baht in advance, holding the voter's ID card, and promising an additional 3,000 baht before election day. "If we calculate the target of 250 parliamentary seats, we estimate over 12.5 billion baht will be circulated," Rangsee warned. He urged citizens to be aware, saying, "If you accept money from corrupt actors, the country will face disaster. You can take the money, but choose a party with clear policies." Addressing internal party structure questions, Rangsee explained their strategic approach of distributing responsibilities, emphasizing that he does not seek to monopolize power. He stressed that the party's goal is to address national crises, particularly economic challenges and corruption, by seeking a landslide victory to implement meaningful change.