Competition and Factors Affecting Victory of House of Representatives Candidates in Loei Province during the 2019 General Election

Abstract

         The objectives of this research are to study political competition, specifically the factors affecting victory in Loei Province in the March 24, 2019 general election and the relationships between politicians and political parties during the election. Data were collected from documents and in-depth interviews with MP candidates, local politicians, canvassers, community leaders and voters. The results showed that the political competition in Loei province was between three political parties: Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithai and Palang Pracharath. Factors affecting the voters’ decisions were the political party affiliation of the MP candidate, as most voters in Northeastern Thailand still support the defunct Thai Rak Thai Party (now Pheu Thai), and also tight network building between the national party and local politicians. The latter was evident in Electoral District 3, where one candidate affiliated with Bhumjaithai who enjoyed a firm relationship with well-known local politicians in the Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) was able to defeat the Pheu Thai candidate, as well as the Palang Pracharath candidate, who was a several-time former MP in this electoral district.