Democratic Party Accuses Government of Politicizing Civil Service Appointments

At a 10:00 a.m. press conference on August 21, 2025, Democratic Party deputy spokesman Nattakarn Chuchanua addressed government administration and civil service appointments. He first expressed concern for flood victims in Nan Province and praised relief workers from all sectors.

Chuchanua stated that the key issue concerns the government's stated commitment to good governance and ethical principles. However, an IFD poll of over 1,300 respondents conducted earlier this week found that more than 60 percent believe civil service appointments under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul have not adhered to ethical standards, with political considerations, patronage networks, major factions, and financial interests involved.

While promoting senior civil servants such as permanent secretaries with 8-10 years of service remaining is technically legal, Chuchanua said public perception sees this as laying groundwork for political advantage and damaging morale among other civil servants losing career advancement opportunities.

Chuchanua noted that he accompanied party list MP Chuan Likphai in addressing Education Ministry staff, where nearly everyone explicitly disagreed with current appointment practices. He warned the government that the Constitution and Civil Service Act require appointments based on ethics, capability, performance, and conduct without regard to political considerations. Appointed civil servants therefore bear the burden of proving they are not representatives of political parties or serving particular political interests.

"If the government appoints incompetent people for political benefit, the damage falls on the government itself. Such behavior is as reprehensible as vote-buying in parliament," Chuchanua said.

He also noted that Prime Minister Anutin expressed shame earlier this year about rising corruption figures during a Ministry of Interior meeting. Chuchanua countered that Anutin need not feel ashamed or blame others, since he appointed these individuals himself. Failure to select qualified personnel has allowed corruption to spread throughout every level from national to local government.

Chuchanua also discussed the National Buddhism Office's transfer of a specialist-level civil servant from Kalasin to Yala following an inspection tour by the office's leadership. He argued that the southern border region is complex, and personnel transfers there should consider knowledge, capability, and suitability to the area. Deploying problematic personnel to sensitive areas is the wrong approach and warrants government investigation.