For young Thais ethics and honesty are key values in upcoming elections
Bangkok (AsiaNews) – Candidates’ ethics, their capacity to keep their word, their respect for the population and its primary needs are the main requisites young Thais want to see in the people running for office in the December 23 parliamentary elections. Altogether 480 seats are up for grabs with 800 candidates and 20 parties in the race.
Next month’s elections will be the first democratic poll since the peaceful, king-backed coup of September 2006 that ousted then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who had been accused of corruption.
According to Sasimaporn Ka-ngen, a pre-university student, the first criterion to take into consideration is “how candidates intend to manage the serious issue of poverty, one of the situations that afflict our country. For this reason I don’t think I will look at a party’s platform but will try to learn the most about a candidate’s profile to see if he keeps his promises.”
U-tain Pipatpokaisri, who studies at the Buddhist temple of Rajjaborpit, the environment is what is important. “I am convinced,” he said, “that at the basis of our life there is our relationship to the environment. I hope that candidates will share this view which is for me fundamental.”
For Yos Tansakul, who studies social sciences, “it seems that every candidate is saying that they want free education for all, but I have never seen it in reality. I’d be impressed if someone presented a plan that included that possibility. I also believe that politicians’ honesty is also another important issue.”
Lastly Juthaporn Taepakdee, who represents students from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Institute, said that he will consider “the ethics of candidates and the sincerity with which they will work for the development of Thailand” before casting his ballot.
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