By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE ELECTION COMMISSION today (June 7) resolved to hold an initial stage of the triple-tiered senatorial election nationwide on the upcoming Sunday as earlier planned.
The nine election commissioners reached the unanimous decision to hold the district-level election for senator among eligible candidates on the approaching Sunday despite accusations of being “unconstitutional” earlier charged by some of the senatorial contestants.
According to plan, following the district-level election will be the provincial level scheduled for June 16 and finally the national level for June 26.
Prior to today’s resolution of the commissioners to go ahead with Sunday’s initial stage of the triple-tiered senatorial election, petitions had been filed to the Office of Ombudsman, the Administrative Court and the polling agency alleging that the unprecedented, complicated process breaches the constitution’s organic law relevant to the nationwide election, thus seeking amendment to it during which the race to parliament could possibly be postponed.
The petitioners had charged that the senatorial contests could possibly be eventually declared by court as null and void, thus rendering a huge sum of money in fine to pay in damage compensation for which the election commissioners would be held accountable.
Bones of contention over the alleged “unconstitutionality” of the senatorial election reportedly pertain to the polling agency’s arguable rules which bars all applicants from being related to persons with current political positions at any levels and prohibits contestants from picking more than one choice from among fellow candidates in addition to voting for themselves at any tiers of the electoral process.
The petitioners had contended that they should be legally allowed to pick not just one but two choices from among fellow contestants in case that they may decide to not vote for themselves.
Criticism had been earlier lodged to the extent that as many as 149 out of 46,000-plus contestants vying to grab a total of 200 Senate seats were already anticipated as shoo-ins at the district and provincial levels and largely speculated to finally win the national level.
That apparently refers to former cabinet members, former MPs, former senators and former provincial governors, among others.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page: The Election Commission led by its Secretary-General Mr. Sawang Boonmee addressing a press conference today, June 7, 2024. Photos: Thai Rath
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