On May 24, 2025, at the Future Building, the People’s Party (PP) held a public forum to gather citizen feedback on revising the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Act. The event was led by Bangkok MPs Mr. Natcha Boonchaiinsawat, Ms. Rakchanok Srinok, Mr. Worapob Wiriyaroj (party-list MP), and Mr. Chatchai Moddee, Bangkok Councilor for Bang Na District.
Mr. Natcha stated that although Bangkok has had an elected governor for the past 3–4 years, recurring issues regarding limited authority have hindered the administration's effectiveness. The People's Party has compiled these issues and drafted a new version of the BMA Act aimed at structural reform.
This forum marks the starting point for breaking long-standing limitations. The People’s Party intends to finalize the revised BMA Act before the next election, stressing that delays would be a missed opportunity for Bangkok residents. Mr. Natcha urged the Prime Minister and government to address these bureaucratic bottlenecks.
He emphasized the importance of initiating the legislative process now. Details can be refined during parliamentary committee deliberations, but it's crucial to start reform discussions to resolve authority-related constraints. He advocated empowering people and allowing public input into the legislative process.
Mr. Worapob outlined five key proposed reforms:
- Unlock gubernatorial powers to allow full management of public services, except for restricted areas like defense and judiciary, and allow private sector involvement in service delivery.
- Fiscal autonomy for Bangkok, including setting hotel fees, issuing bonds, securing loans, and forming joint ventures or state enterprises without central approval, requiring only BMA Council endorsement.
- Decentralization from the central government, enforcing long-overdue power transfers (e.g., oversight of hotels and factories) within one year.
- Structural change to a two-tier local government—a city-level and district-level with directly elected district heads, modeled after cities like Seoul, Tokyo, and London.
- Civic rights and participation, allowing citizens to submit motions and project proposals to the BMA Council, engage in budget planning, and initiate referendums.
Mr. Chatchai highlighted infrastructure management challenges, such as utilities and traffic systems, where BMA lacks administrative control. Despite legislative proposals from the People’s Party, legal interpretations blocked BMA authority. He noted that had the BMA been empowered, citywide rail development could already be underway.
Mr. Natcha added that the People’s Party is now accepting applications for district council candidates and is vetting candidates for the governor post, to be unveiled alongside all 50 district candidates and policy platforms. While potential candidates have been approached, names and numbers remain confidential to avoid speculation and internal conflict. However, he assured the selected candidate is highly competent.
When asked whether the candidate could rival incumbent Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, Mr. Natcha affirmed that the People’s Party is the leading political force, winning the last election in Bangkok. He insisted that their candidate is not for comparison but chosen for dedication to public service and readiness to tackle challenges with innovative, rule-breaking solutions if necessary.