By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE COURT was today (Apr. 30) petitioned to consider overruling the Election Commission’s contentious prohibition on the self-introduction of any would-be senatorial candidates on all media platforms.
Former senators Panat Tasneeyanond filed the petition with the Central Administrative Court in pursuit of a court waiver of the Election Commission’s regulations, recently issued, to ban all candidates for senator from introducing themselves on social media and conventional media platforms, saying such a prohibition is evidently tantamount to a sheer denial of basic, individual freedoms of expression under democratic rule.
Panat who will run for senator said he could possibly be the first candidate to introduce himself on his Facebook page, given the sought-after court overruling against the polling agency’s contentious ban.
The former senator said many candidates would undoubtedly prefer to make themselves better known via social media to fellow candidates who may pick them from among a number of others.
Unlike previous ones in which senators had been either voted by constituents nationwide or appointed by coup juntas, the 200 new senators will be picked from among candidates and not by constituents.
Meanwhile, Progressive Group leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit said today he will definitely go ahead with his daily activism to encourage a large number of people to run for senator, the application for which will warrant 2,500 baht in cash payment out of their own pocket.
According to Thanathorn, the more the people apply to run for senator, the fewer the number of those who may be pulled by politically powerful groups of interest at district, provincial or national levels being elected.
The Progressive Group leader said he will remain undaunted by the Election Commission’s apparent threat to hold those who may violate their regulations pertaining to the senatorial election accountable and subject to a maximum of one year in jail and a maximum of 20,000 baht in fine or both.
Thanathorn suggested the winning candidates be ultimately welcomed as democratic-minded, organic ones rather than be otherwise seen as being influenced by politically powerful figures at any levels.
He categorically dismissed criticism that he is merely promoting “orange senators” as opposed to ultra-conservative ones and that the 200 winning candidates could practically represent the people nationwide in lieu of certain influential groups of interest.
The triple-tiered election of the 200 new senators will begin with that at district level scheduled for June 9, followed by provincial level scheduled for June 16 and finally at national level set for June 26.
Candidates who are legally obliged to be not under 40 years old and categorised by regular occupation into 20 groups of persons may apply to contest the senatorial election on May 13 whilst official results of the race to parliament will be announced on July 2.
No less than 100,000 people are expected to contest the unprecedented, triple-tiered election for senator but no candidates are legally allowed to be attached to any political parties.
Unlike the outgoing, coup junta-named senators, the new ones will no longer be constitutionally empowered to cast votes for prime minister alongside the elected MPs as had been last year’s case in which Pheu Thai-backed Srettha Thavisin won overwhelming yea votes from most of the senators.
CAPTIONS:
Former senators Panat Tasneeyanond at the Central Administration Court. Top photo: Thai Rath, Front Page photo: Naewna
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