By Thai Newsroom Reporters
MANY BIG NAMES ranging from former high-ranking government officials and former lawmakers to a former prime minister are likely to be named among a total of 200 senators in tomorrow’s (June 26) election.
Among those big-name contestants vying at the national or final tier of the complicated, triple-tiered race to parliament with the likelihood of being voted a senator from among fellow candidates tomorrow are former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, brother-in-law to de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra and former acting Pheu Thai-attached prime minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisal.
Among former lawmakers tipped to be named senators are former senator Direk Thuengfang, former MPs Wittaya Bhumlaojaeng and Srimuang Charoensiri as well as retired army and police generals.
Former prominent academics likely to be named senators are Prapat Pintoptaeng of Chulalongkorn University’s Political Science Faculty and Pichit Likhitkijsomboon of Thammasat University’s Economics Faculty, among others.
At the alleged whims of the de facto Pheu Thai boss, his brother-in-law is more or less destined to be named Senate speaker whilst his camp are core of the current coalition government.
Chief Election Commissioner Itthiporn Boonprakhong today confirmed one million baht in cash reward will be granted to anyone who could evidently give a tipoff for the authorities to arrest any electoral rigging suspect.
Without naming names, Election Commission Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee has earlier admitted some senatorial contestants may have been closely connected with wealthy, powerful figures who might probably look to buy votes from among “puppet” candidates for the ones clandestinely intended to be named senators.
A number of little-known people are largely believed to have been hired only to act as “puppet” candidates with intent to cast their votes at the hush-hush orders of those wealthy, powerful figures.
CAPTIONS:
Top: The Election Commission’s logo overlaid on an image showing a polling station. Photo: Thai Rath
Front Page: Vote counting during a previous round of senatorial election. Photo: Naewna
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