Opposition figure wins Bangkok governor's election

An independent Thai politician has won the race to become the new governor of the capital, Bangkok. Chadchart Sittipunt swept to a landslide victory over a total field of 31 candidates.

Though running as an independent, Chadchart was widely seen as a proxy for the Pheu Thai party, the main Opposition grouping in Parliament.

He served as transport minister in a Pheu Thai government in 2012-2014, and in 2019 was one of the party's prime ministerial candidates. It was Bangkok's first gubernatorial election in nine years.