The Impact of “Baan Yai” on Thai Politics: The Case of the 2025 Local Elections in the Lower North
The February 2025 Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) elections in Thailand’s Lower North underscored the enduring influence of powerful political families known as Baan Yai, who continue to dominate local politics through entrenched patronage networks and personal credibility. Despite increased involvement from national parties like Pheu Thai (PT), Prachachon (PP), and Bhumjaithai (BJT), electoral success largely hinged on affiliations with Baan Yai. BJT outperformed expectations by informally aligning with key local families, while PT’s nationalized campaign approach underperformed. The findings reaffirm that in provincial contests, personal networks, familiarity with local issues, and the delivery of tangible results outweigh party platforms or ideological affiliations, suggesting that political parties still rely heavily on Baan Yai to secure regional victories.