Thai GE: ‘Money being thrown around to buy votes’, but voters now want more than just handouts

Yodchanan Wongsawat, the lead PM candidate for the Pheu Thai party, is linked to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The 46-year-old is a biomedical engineering professor and the nephew of Thaksin. -- ST PHOTO: MAY WONG

CHIANG RAI, UBON RATCHATHANI (The Straits Times/ANN): Chiang Rai street food vendor Benjaporn Maigate is tired of politicians who use money to buy votes.

“There’s a lot of money being thrown around to buy votes, but I believe everyone must rely on themselves rather than just waiting for handouts,” said the 55-year-old, who added that what people really need are policies that reduce the cost of living, especially electricity and fuel.