❓ Claim Reviewed: Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn allegedly stated, “There must be no royal portraits in the metropolis.”
❌ Fact-Check Result: False Content Repeatedly Recirculated Since the 2022 Bangkok Gubernatorial Election
📝 Summary: On 13 January 2026, an X account named “Chad FTWorld” posted an image of Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, a party-list MP candidate from People’s Party, with overlaid text reading:
“Don’t be afraid that I will change things, because if I get in, I will definitely change them. I will definitely change them. There must be no royal portraits in the metropolis.”
The image was presented in a way that made it appear to be a direct quote from Wiroj.
The post’s author commented that the message constituted a “digital footprint” demonstrating that People’s Party “seeks to overthrow the democratic system with the King as Head of State.”
As of 15 January, the post had garnered nearly 30,000 views and almost 400 reposts.
🔎 Cofact’s Findings: The image and accompanying text are false content
The picture and corresponding text were first circulated three years ago. During the Bangkok gubernatorial election campaign on 22 May 2022, Wiroj was one of the candidates. This false claim has been repeatedly recirculated despite Wiroj’s denials and clear evidence showing that the statement was not his.
The origin of the false post can be traced to a campaign message that Wiroj posted on X on 14 May 2022, stating:
“Don’t be afraid that I will come in and change things, because if I get in, I will definitely change them.”
The Facebook page “PoliticsKalaland(การเมืองไทย ในกะลา)” used this message to create a quote graphic. Subsequently, the image was edited by others to add the phrase:
“I will definitely change things. There must be no royal portraits in the metropolis.”
On 18 May 2022, the page “PoliticsKalaland(การเมืองไทย ในกะลา)” clarified that its image had been edited to include text that was not spoken by Wiroj. However, the false content has continued to circulate.
On 22 July 2025, Wiroj addressed the issue again after the Facebook account “Arnond Sakworawich” reposted the false content. Wiroj stated that this involved “using an image with fabricated text that could constitute lèse-majesté and falsely attributing it to me in order to generate hatred against me.” He attached evidence in the form of links to his original X post and the clarification post by “PoliticsKalaland(การเมืองไทย ในกะลา),” confirming that his original statement contained no wording related to the monarchy.
Cofact found that this edited image containing false statements began circulating again on social media from 4 January 2026 onward, including on Facebook (such as the page “Mor Anamai Khii Mouth”), X, and TikTok. This constitutes defamation of a parliamentary candidate through false statements in the period leading up to the general election scheduled for 8 February.
