Chadchart resigns as Bangkok governor ahead of May 21 term end
Chadchart Sittipunt has resigned as Bangkok governor before his term ends, with the BMA permanent secretary to act in his place.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt submitted his resignation today (May 15), ahead of the end of his term on May 21, as he prepares to run in the upcoming Bangkok governor election.
At a press conference scheduled for today on the planning and preparation of Bangkok’s comprehensive city plan, Chadchart had originally been due to speak. However, when the event took place, Deputy Bangkok Governor Wisanu Subsompon was assigned to brief the media instead.
Additional reports said that after resigning, Chadchart would travel to the United States to take a break and visit his son, as well as congratulate him on completing his bachelor’s degree.
He is expected to return to register as a candidate in the Bangkok governor election on May 28, 2026. Chadchart is also expected to unveil his team of deputy Bangkok governors and a new working team at the same time.
The atmosphere inside Bangkok City Hall showed that the offices of deputy governors, advisers and the governor’s secretaries had begun gradually packing up belongings from their workplaces.
On the budget front, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s executive side is expected to complete the draft expenditure budget for fiscal year 2027, worth around 93 billion baht, within today.
The draft will be prepared for submission to the Bangkok Metropolitan Council for consideration by the new Bangkok governor, so that budget disbursement can begin from October 1, 2026.
If a Bangkok governor resigns, the law requires the BMA permanent secretary to serve as acting governor.
The Bangkok Election Commission must then organise an election within 60 days. The timing falls within a possible window for the governor election to be held together with the Bangkok Metropolitan Council election.
The Election Commission has approved a plan to hold the election on June 28, 2026, on the same day as elections for Pattaya mayor and Pattaya City Council members.
