On January 2, Ms. Traisulee Traisoranakul, Secretary to the Interior Minister and spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, addressed allegations of district officials ordering local leaders to monitor election campaigns for the People's Party. While specific locations were not identified in the reports, the ministry has taken the concerns seriously and reinforced strict guidelines for political neutrality among officials.
Ms. Traisulee highlighted that directives from the Ministry of Interior require all state officials, including provincial and district administrators, village heads, and local government employees, to remain politically neutral and adhere to legal protocols outlined in the Election of Local Council Members or Local Administrators Act, B.E. 2562.
Under Section 69 of the Act, government officials are prohibited from using their positions to benefit or disadvantage any candidate unless performing official duties. Violations can lead to intervention by the Election Commission (EC), which may order corrective measures, including temporary removal from duty or restriction of access to election areas until the conclusion of the vote count.
The Ministry of Interior has instructed provincial governors to reiterate these rules to district chiefs and local government agencies nationwide, emphasizing neutrality to ensure a fair election process.