Some electorates appear to be affiliated with the second-largest partnership group.
More than a few of the 200 senators- elect evidently had social group affiliations, notably with the Bhumjaithai Party, a review of the illegal results of Wednesday’s vote shows.
The last inter-group vote for the candidates took place on Wednesday at 8 p.m., and the count ran for an extended period of time until 4.52 a.m. yesterday. A list of 200 legislators- choose ( in Thai ) and 100 prospective competitors has since been released.
Substitutes may be legislators if any elective senators are later disqualified.
The Election Commission stated that it anticipated the release of the standard benefits on July 3, adding that studies into problems and anomalies would definitely want to continue after that time.
Nipon Ekwanit, a previous Phuket MP member from the Bhumjaithai Party, Pibul at Haruehanprakan, a former advisor to a previous hospitality and sporting minister from the same group, and Dr. Praphon Tangsrikiatkul, who served as a vice chancellor under Bhumjaithai head Anutin Charnvirakul while he was health minister in the previous government, are among the electorates on the list.
Another senator- elect was former 4th Army chief Gen Kriangkrai Srirak, chief adviser to Mr Anutin, who is the Interior Minister in the current administration.
Buri Ram, the seat of Bhumjaithai godfather Newin Chidchob, ranked first among all provinces with 14 elected senators, followed by Bangkok with nine, Surin and Ayuthaya with seven each, and Ang Thong, Satun, and Songkhla with six each, according to a Facebook post from Internet Dialogue on Law Reform (iLaw ).
Bhumjaithai is particularly strong in some of the Central and lower Northeast provinces. iLaw noted that in 12 provinces that produced a total of 80 new senators, Bhumjaithai also has MPs.
Other senators- elect include human rights activist Angkhana Neelapaijit, Chulalongkorn University economics lecturer Lae Dilokvidhyarat, former Ang Thong governor Weerasak Wichitsaengsri, former Si Sa Ket governor Thawat Suraban, and Mongkol Surasajja, who served as director- general of the Department of Provincial Administration.
Only a select few civil sector representatives, according to Ms. Angkhana.
Former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, a brother- in- law of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, was not among those elected. Many political observers had anticipated that he would become the speaker of the Senate. ( Story continues below )
Former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, a brother- in- law of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, is not among those elected. ( Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill )
Angkhana Neelapaijit, a former head of the National Human Rights Commission, was among the prominent activists who won a Senate seat. ( Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill )
The new Senate will have 200 representatives from 20 different professions, replacing the 250 coup-appointed senators whose terms ended on May 10 and whose terms ended.
Unlike their predecessors, the new senators will not be empowered to co- elect a prime minister. They will participate in the passage of laws and constitutional amendments. They will also be responsible for appointing independent organizations and monitoring the executive branch’s performance.
Stithorn Thananithichot, director of the Office of Innovation for Democracy at King Prajadhipok’s Institute, told the Bangkok Post that many of the newly elected senators are affiliated with Bhumjaithai.
” In other words, the old power group still holds sway over the new Senate”, he said.
He asserted that the newly created Senate would not be unlike the junta-appointed chamber.
” The majority of the new Senate is governed by those who have ties to the previous Prayut Chan-o-cha government. They have a long history of belonging to the former power group, he claimed.
Move Forward Party leader Chaithawat Tulathon demanded on Thursday that all 200 winning candidates be endorsed first and disqualified later if there is proof of any poll fraud.
Any delay in the approval process will make it more likely that the caretaker Senate will serve, he noted.
