Election Commission member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn has slammed the National Legislative Assembly for lifting a ban on entertainment activities in political campaigns. (Bangkok Post file photo)Allowing candidates running for the House of Representatives to sponsor various forms of entertainment in their election campaigns will move Thailand 43 years backward in politics, Election Commission member Somchai Srisuthiyakorn said on Sunday. The election law was later amended to prohibit the use of entertainment for the campaigns. Mr Somchai said allowing candidates to sponsor entertainment events will give big political parties a huge advantage over smaller parties because they usually have greater financial resources - or may even be linked to entertainment businesses as owners or shareholders. "I believe the NLA's decision (to leave out the entertainment ban) is simply to draw more people to listen to campaign speeches of politicians and political parties.

Source: Bangkok Post January 28, 2018 09:00 UTC