Anucha Burapachaisri: Bangkok governor contender on Democrat rescue mission

The opposition Democrat Party is fighting to reclaim the Bangkok governorship, a stronghold it has won five times over the past half-century to dominate City Hall for a combined 15 years.

Newly returned member Anucha Burapachaisri is the man tasked with restoring the fortunes of Thailand’s oldest party at the June 28 gubernatorial election.

The Democrats have taken a beating at the last four national elections they have contested, watching their seat count collapse from 159 in 2011 to just 21 at present. Reinvigorated by the return to the helm of former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, they are now banking on Anucha to provide a crucial political springboard in their former stronghold of Bangkok.

If elected, the 59-year-old will become the fourth Democrat to serve as the capital’s governor, joining the ranks of the city’s first elected chief executive, Thammanoon Thien-ngern (1975-1977), Apirak Kosayodhin (2004-2008) and Sukhumbhand Paribatra (2009-2016). Both Apirak and Sukhumbhand were re-elected, but neither managed to complete their second term.

Anucha has emerged as a serious challenger to outgoing governor Chadchart Sittipunt, who is seeking re-election. The third heavyweight contender in the battle for Bangkok is Chaiwat Sathawornwichit of the opposition-leading People’s Party, who launched his campaign on May 5.

Chadchart stepped down on Monday, three days before his four-year term officially expired, to focus on his re-election bid. Recent opinion polls place him as the clear frontrunner to win the top job at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

‘A better Bangkok’

Anucha promised a “convenient, clean, and comfortable” Bangkok at his March 16 campaign launch, pledging to transform the capital into a “true City of Angels” while remaining open to input from residents.

“The Democrat Party and I are committed to serving Bangkok, confident in the knowledge we can do better and achieve more,” he said, adding that he was unfazed by his position in the polls.

Democrat leader Abhisit said that while Anucha may be the underdog, he possesses all the experience and expertise required to revitalise the city.

“His record is spotless. He is determined to return and help the Democrat Party at a time when we have been left lagging behind. He has chosen to devote himself to the people of Bangkok and make the city better than it is today,” Abhisit said.

(Political) life begins at 40

Born on January 23, 1967, Anucha earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Adelaide in Australia, a master’s in energy and combustion science from the University of Leeds in England, and a second master’s in finance and marketing from Chulalongkorn University’s Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration.

Before entering politics, he spent nearly two decades as a senior executive at Metro Engineering and Machinery Co, a leading distributor of heavy machinery and construction equipment in Thailand.

Anucha broke into the political arena aged 40, elected as a Bangkok MP under the Democrat banner in 2007. He was re-elected four years later.

However, he failed to retain his seat in the 2019 general election – the first national vote following the 2014 military coup. He subsequently resigned as deputy secretary-general of the Democrats and crossed over to join coup-maker General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government as secretary to then-education minister Nataphol Teepsuwan – a fellow Democrat who had defected to the military-backed Palang Pracharath Party.

In August 2020, Anucha was promoted to the post of government spokesperson. He was replaced by Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana a year later and shifted to the role of deputy secretary-general to the prime minister. He returned as government spokesman in August 2022, serving until July 2023.

Ahead of the 2023 general election, he joined the United Thai Nation Party, which was formed as a vehicle for Prayut’s bid to extend his tenure as PM. Installed as a deputy party leader, he ran on the party list but failed to gain election. However, when party leader Pirapan Salirathavibhaga quit as a list MP, Anucha took his seat as the next candidate in line.

Anucha left United Thai Nation last year to join the now-ruling Bhumjaithai Party, contesting the February election as a party-list candidate. After failing to secure a seat in Parliament, he left Bhumjaithai and returned full circle to the Democrat Party.

Anucha declared assets of 435.4 million baht to the National Anti-Corruption Commission in 2008. They included 59 land plots valued at 218 million baht, investments worth 173.6 million, bank deposits totalling 4.2 million and two houses valued at 5.5 million baht.

He is married to Sudarat, daughter of former Bangkok governor Krisda Arunvong. Krisda was also the city’s third elected chief executive, serving under the Palang Dharma Party banner from 1992 to 1996.