Among the myriad of implications over Chadchart Sittipunt's thumping triumph in Bangkok's gubernatorial election last Sunday is the restoration of Thailand's self-confidence and Thais' sense of belief that tomorrow will be better than today. After years of political decay and entrenching economic stagnation stemming from societal divisions, Mr Chadchart brings into office what has been described as a "rainbow" coalition made up of people from different walks of life and political party lines, transcending the progressive and conservative sides of the political divide.
But as his honeymoon period will soon subside, the Bangkok governor-elect faces daunting and dark challenges. High public expectation over his election victory reflects Thailand's longstanding political malaise and economic slump as well as the public's frustration with the incompetence of the powers-that-be in steering the country backwards. Yet Mr Chadchart deserves a fair assessment rather than an overestimation of what his mandate will allow him to accomplish.
