By Thai Newsroom Reporters
SENATE SPEAKER Pornpet Wichitchonchai today (Feb.27) suggested all senators to not witness electoral campaigns anywhere for fear of accusations of being otherwise biassed.
Pornpet called on the senior legislators to exercise caution during the current run-up to a general election by not visiting any electoral campaign venues held in public nationwide.
The Senate speaker said those senators could probably be charged with failure to practically maintain neutrality among all contesting parties.
Pornpet contended the senators should not excuse themselves for witnessing a campaign rally as an observer before they decide to pick a partisan candidate for prime minister after the nationwide election.
The coup junta-designed constitution empowers the unelected senators with the right to vote alongside the elected MPs for partisan contestants for head of a post-election government in a joint House/Senate session.
According to the Senate speaker, several senators have already been spotted visiting some campaign venues in and around Bangkok as well as in the provinces.
Pornpet made his comments amidst speculation that all senators will very likely vote either for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha who is contesting to retain power under the Ruam Thai Sang Chart tickets or Palang Pracharath leader/Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan who is also running for the top post of government.
Both the prime minister and deputy prime minister were reportedly involved in the handpicking of all the senators following the 2014 coup orchestrated by the then-army chief Prayut.
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Senate Speaker Pornpet Wichitchonchai. Photos: Matichon
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