Yodchanan Wongsawat, a prime ministerial candidate representing the Pheu Thai Party, has commented on the party’s performance following the first five days of its election campaign.
Addressing the results of a recent “Person of the Year” survey, which placed Pheu Thai at the bottom of the rankings, Yodchanan said the outcome was not a cause for concern.
He explained that feedback from grassroots communities during campaign field visits has remained overwhelmingly positive, noting strong public engagement with the party’s policy platform.
Yodchanan added that the campaign period still provides sufficient time to introduce additional policies, reinforcing the party’s confidence as candidates continue intensive on-ground outreach.
While acknowledging the poll results as useful input, he said other surveys remained favourable and reiterated that the party’s core objective is to drive national progress.
Integrated Security and Digital Governance
On national security policy, Yodchanan proposed a comprehensive structural reform.
A central element of this approach is the development of a fully integrated Digital Government framework.
The plan includes:
— Financial transparency through digital systems designed to trace financial transactions and identify irregularities.
— Proactive diplomatic cooperation with international agencies to exchange intelligence, protect national data, and monitor external threats.
— Coordinated crackdowns on scammers, narcotics networks, and corruption by ensuring unified data sharing across state agencies.
Border Security and Sovereignty
In response to questions about developments along the Thai–Cambodian border, Yodchanan outlined a two-phase strategy.
In the short term, he said efforts should focus on enabling affected residents to resume normal daily life while strengthening the morale of troops stationed in the area.
In the long term, he stated that, should Pheu Thai form the next government, national sovereignty would remain a top priority. The party supports maintaining a strong military presence while applying a “dual-track” strategy that combines diplomacy with defensive deterrence.
He further emphasised the importance of communicating Thailand’s actions to the international community, ensuring they are recognised as legitimate under the United Nations Charter and aligned with principles of peace and human rights.
Clarifying the party’s position on military restructuring and defence spending, Yodchanan said any decisions must be based on current and emerging security threats.
He pointed to the rise of digital and cyber risks and called for greater investment in new technologies, including drones and military medicine.
“We don’t necessarily need to cut the security budget,” he said.
“Instead, we should position national security as a leader in military research, similar to the United States model, where security innovations eventually drive economic growth.”
On the issue of military conscription, Yodchanan said the composition of personnel must remain proportionate to national security needs.
He stressed that, in periods of elevated threat, a strong armed force is essential, and any reforms to the conscription system must be undertaken through joint assessments with military leadership.
