Thai candidates spend $581 mil. campaigning for Jan. 6 poll+

0 Comments | Asian Political News, Jan 1, 2001

BANGKOK, Dec. 28 Kyodo

Candidates vying in the Jan. 6 general election have spent an estimated 25 billion baht ($581 million) campaigning, lending a fillip to the economy, a private research agency said Thursday.

The sum is an increase from the 20 billion baht spent in the 1996 House of Representatives election, the Thai Farmers Research Center Co. said.

The latest figure was calculated from expenditures during the July-December period, which includes the four months prior to the Nov. 9 election call.

The Election Commission allows each of the 2,782 candidates contesting the 400 constituencies to spend a maximum of 1 million baht campaigning from Nov. 9-Jan. 6, as well as 30 days after the vote in case the commission decides another is needed because of fraud.

Hopefuls are required to report how the money was spent to the commission.

But candidates usually start unofficial campaigning very early in anticipation of the call, and spend huge sums.

The center said that of the 25 billion baht, 8.3 billion was spent in the northeastern region, 6.4 billion in Bangkok, 3.5 billion in the north, 3 billion in the central region, 2.8 billion in the south and 1 billion in the east.

The northeastern region has the most seats in the lower house, and accounts for 138 of the 500 members.

The funds were spent on advertising, media and printing activities, as well as fees paid to singers or film celebrities hired to boost campaigns. The stars made 5,000-30,000 baht daily, the center said.

Money was also spent on infrastructure projects or to organize gatherings of supports and canvassers to win their votes, it added.