22 January 2026 Rukchanok Srinok, a parliamentary candidate from the People’s Party, has launched a campaign urging the public to vote “against” proposed amendments to the regulations governing elections to Thailand’s Social Security Board. The amendments are currently under a public consultation conducted by the Social Security Office and would significantly alter the voting weight of insured persons.
At the same time, members of the public reported that the website used for submitting opinions and casting “against” votes was inaccessible for a period of time, preventing them from participating in the online consultation.
Rukchanok described the proposed regulations as a “coup against the Social Security Board,” arguing that they would allow the same entrenched groups to regain power. She said the changes would sharply reduce the collective voting power of insured persons from one-third to just one twenty-first. If approved, she warned, the rules would enable the same groups to cycle back into authority and continue controlling budgets and decision-making as before.
She also noted that politics has long played a role in the Social Security Board, as the Minister of Labour—who comes from a political party—has the ability to influence and control board votes.
The People’s Party reaffirmed its stance on promoting transparency, accountability, anti-corruption measures, and the protection of insured persons’ rights. The party called on the public to vote against the draft regulations to build broad consensus, stressing that the social security system must serve as a valuable and secure safety net, free from corruption.
