Thai party’s election pledge: Will legalize sex toys for tax collection
Bangkok, Apr 25 (EFE).- To entice voters in poll-bound Thailand, a political party has made a pretty frisky vow, offering to legalize the sale of banned sex toys in the kingdom.
The Democrat Party, the oldest political outfit in the Buddhist-majority Southeast Asian nation, said allowing intimate devices for sale would generate more income through taxes and help curb sex crimes.
The party has suffered humiliating electoral losses in recent elections and is seeking to regain its political capital ahead of the May 14 vote.
Party leader Ratchada Thanadirek said in a statement on Monday that the country was suffering financial losses due to the ban on the import of sex toys.
The devices are available in Thai street markets, albeit illegally.
Thanadirek, one of the spokespersons for the outgoing government, said she proposed to remove these products from Article 287 of the Penal Code, which stipulates penalties of up to three years in prison for those who buy or sell such devices.
She said sex toys could even be beneficial for troubled couples.
The Democratic Party, founded in 1946, with a pro-monarchy and economically liberal ideology, stands fourth in the exit polls (4.75%) after Pheu Thai (47.20%), Move Forward (21. 20%), and United Thai Nation (10.8%).
With a formidable electoral base in Bangkok and the south, the party has had four prime ministers, including Chuan Leekpai (1992-1995 and 1997-2001) and Abhisit Vejjajiva (2008-2011).
However, in recent years it has lost electoral support and got slightly more than 11 percent of the vote in 2019.
It joined the pro-military coalition led by outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha. EFE
grc-ssk
