The Politics of Election: A study of the Electoral Political Strategies of Mr. Somsak Boonprachom (Siaxiang) from the Pheu Thai Ruamphalang Party in the 2023 general election

Abstract

Research on “The Politics of Election: A Study of the Electoral Political Strategies of Mr. Somsak Boonprachom (Siaxiang) from the Pheu Thai Ruamphalang Party in the 2023 general election.” aims to study strategies for building his voting base and the role of the political campaign that led to Mr. Somsak Boonprachom (Sia Xiang)'s election victory, the Pheu Thai Ruamphalang Party in electoral district no. 10, Ubon Ratchathani Province. This research uses a qualitative research method, which is defined as document research, group interviews, and interviews with key informants. The results of the research found that his political electoral strategies primarily focused on the personality of the candidate rather than the party due to the parallel electoral system between districts and proportionality (Mixed Member Majoritarian; MMM Representation). The system allows voters to choose a political party and a candidate separately. Besides, Mr.Somsak Boonprachom himself created his voting base through patronage and assistance to his people in the area before the election came. Mr.Somsak placed more importance on the localism of the individual in the election campaign than on his party policies or the ideology of his political party. Last, he used his election campaign through a canvassing system at the community level and the group level to promote himself as a candidate. As for his election speech, there was no criticism of the rival parties, unlike other political parties.