THE Constitutional Court today (June 18) allowed the Election Commission to continue with the triple-tiered senatorial election with two stages having already been completed and while the third, at the national level, is to take place on June 26.
The court found that an accusation filed by some senatorial contestants that this election process is unconstitutional is groundless with the procedure not having breached the constitution.
The election of 200 senators is a triple-tiered process beginning with district level, then provincial level and finally national level.
The district-level election was held on Sunday June 9, the provincial level took place last Sunday June 16 while the national level is scheduled for June 26.
At each level, each of the senatorial candidates elect two persons from among all the eligible contestants so the 10 most elected candidates in each of the 20 categories will finally become senators. Each of the candidates may vote for themselves alongside the other.
The elected senators who will replace those appointed by a coup junta under leadership of former prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will be no longer constitutionally empowered to cast votes alongside MPs for head of government.
CAPTION:
The Constitutional Court logo overlaid on an image of a polling station. Credit: Thai Rath
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