By Thai Newsroom Reporters
KNOWN FOR BEING ALLEGEDLY associated with political parties, Mongkol Surasajja was today (July 23) overwhelmingly voted Senate speaker.
The newly-elected senators cast 159 votes out of a total 200 to pick Mongkol, a former provincial governor of Buriram and former director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration, as Senate speaker.
That compared to 19 votes and 13 votes for rivals Nantana Nantavaropat and Premsak Piayura contesting in vain for the top post of the Senate respectively.
Mongkol was allegedly personally connected with the second coalition partner Bhumjaithai since he was provincial governor of Buriram, the biggest Bhumjaithai stronghold and hometown of de facto party boss Newin Chidchob.
Besides, Mongkol was allegedly connected with Pheu Thai-attached Tourism & Sports Minister Sermsak Pongpanich during the latter’s time as undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior.
More than half the total 200 senior lawmakers are informally dubbed “Blue Senators” for being more or less allegedly associated with or influenced by Newin’s camp.
Despite the law prohibiting all senators from being by any means associated with or influenced by political parties, they practically are one way or the other, however.
CAPTION:
Top and Front Page: Mongkol Surasajja speaking and waving at the Senate meeting today, July 23, 2024, after he was voted the speaker of the upper house. Photos: Naewna
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