PATTAYA, THAILAND – A prospective mayoral candidate from the People’s Party apologized after her Facebook follower numbers were found to include large numbers of apparent Vietnam-based accounts, reigniting debate over digital campaign ethics in Pattaya.
Suspicion over unusually high follower numbers
In Chon Buri, a controversy emerged around Dr. Nisamart Laoharattanahirun, seen as a likely candidate in Pattaya’s mid-year mayoral election. The dispute centered on the unusually high number of followers on her Facebook page.
The local Facebook page Khwarm Jing Chon Buri–Pattaya publicly questioned how her account had reached about 52,000 followers. It noted that many profiles appeared to be based in Vietnam, raising doubts about the authenticity of the audience.
Online critics question whether followers are local
Khwarm Jing Chon Buri–Pattaya commented on the discovery in a sarcastic tone, asking whether so many Vietnamese people really lived in Pattaya. The posts fueled suspicion that the page’s reach had not grown organically.
Additional pressure came from the Facebook page Jakkawarn Dom Som, described as critical of the People’s Party. That page claimed that more than 90% of the followers were Vietnamese accounts.
Comparison with incumbent mayor Poramet Ngampichet
As the online discussion grew, the figures were compared with those of Pattaya’s incumbent mayor, Poramet Ngampichet. His Facebook page was reported to have around 27,000 followers, who were mostly described as real users from Chon Buri and Pattaya.
Poramet’s current four-year term was set to end on 21 May, and he was seeking a second term. Both he and Dr. Nisamart were regarded as key contenders in the race for Pattaya City Hall.
Candidate admits “boosting” and takes responsibility
After the issue gained rapid traction online, Dr. Nisamart responded with a statement on her Facebook page. She confirmed that her team had used digital communication tools, including, at times, boosting follower numbers.
She acknowledged that this approach had been inappropriate and could lead to misunderstandings. Although the actions had been taken by her team, she said she accepted full responsibility as owner of the account.
Measures halted and account “clean-up” promised
Dr. Nisamart stated that all such activities had now been stopped. She added that steps would be taken to clean up the account so that it reflected genuine followers.
For the future, she pledged to focus on transparent communication and to continue working for the people of Pattaya. She apologized and expressed her gratitude for feedback from the public.
Debate over digital campaign morals and “information operations”
Online presence was often regarded as an indicator of support in local political contests, making conspicuous figures particularly sensitive. According to the report, there was currently no indication of any legal violation, but the ethical dimension was being intensely debated.
The incident further fueled discussion about standards in digital campaigning and the growing role of online “information operations” in local politics. In closely contested regions, the appearance of popularity could be politically effective even without clear evidence of genuine support.
Chon Buri as battleground between People’s Party and Bhumjaithai
Chon Buri had already been a fiercely contested area in the 8 February election between the People’s Party and Bhumjaithai. Both parties reportedly won five constituency seats each, whereas the People’s Party had secured seven seats in 2023.
Bhumjaithai, which had held no seats in the province in 2023, made a clear comeback this year. A key factor cited was the move of local political heavyweight Suchart Chomklin to Bhumjaithai, where he led the regional campaign.
Strategy shift: People’s Party turns to local politics
The People’s Party was reported to be trying to deepen its presence in local politics nationwide. This shift was linked to lessons drawn from weak performance in 2026, which underscored that strong local networks were crucial for national success.
Against this backdrop, the dispute over social media figures carried additional weight, as digital reach was seen as part of political mobilization. At the same time, pressure was growing for campaign methods to remain traceable and credible in the eyes of voters.