EC asked to probe poll promise on women having four husbands

A Palang Pracharath MP candidate has filed a petition with the election watchdog seeking an investigation into a New Alternative party campaign promise to allow women to have up to four husbands, if it wins the general election.

Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, a Bangkok constituency candidate, has asked the Election Commission (EC) to determine whether a campaign policy, recently announced by Mongkolkit Suksintharanon, a prime ministerial candidate, violates election regulations.

Ruangkrai said the complaint followed widespread public reaction after Mongkolkit posted the controversial policy on social media.

The post claimed that, as part of the New Alternative party’s platform on gender equality, women would be allowed to have up to four husbands, with the consent of all parties, describing the idea as “similar to Islamic law.”

The post quickly went viral, prompting a flood of online comments questioning whether the policy was serious or merely satirical. Mongkolkit responded that the proposal was “real.”

According to Ruangkrai, the claim is inconsistent with the facts, as Islamic law permits men to have up to four wives, but only on strict conditions of equal treatment vis-à-vis financial support, housing and time.

Islamic law does not allow women to have multiple husbands.

Ruangkrai emphasised that election law prohibits candidates from misleading voters, making false statements or inducing misunderstanding among voters as to the popularity or policies of a candidate or political party.

He said Mongkolkit’s policy announcement contradicts factual information indicating that Islamic law does not permit women to have multiple husbands and could, therefore, be considered misleading or based on false information, potentially constituting a violation of election law.