When Senator Alongkot Worakee made a surprise entrance into the media circus, it wasn’t for a grand speech or heated debate but rather for an enigmatic linguistic twist. At the tender age of 61, the senator, who hails from the blue political fortress of Uthai Thani, found himself enveloped in a curious cloud of speculation, largely of his own making. He stunned the crowd, again, by dodging the relentless barrage of press inquiries with a simple, steadfast response delivered in a language not widely expected: “Je ne parle pas” [I’m not saying].
This intriguing replay was set in motion after his rather peculiar appearance before the Election Commission (EC) on a sunny Monday morning. They had called him, along with 54 other senators, to untangle a somewhat tangled web of Senate election collusion allegations stemming from the 2024 Senate election. Reporters, refusing to let go like a dog with a bone, persistently questioned him about his choice of language given his Thai senatorial status. With an air of determined mystery, his reply was succinct and unwavering, “Je ne parlerai que français” [I will only speak French].
Senator Alongkot’s career is as robust as it is eclectic. With a doctoral degree in development administration and a master’s in political science under his belt, he once served the province of Uthai Thani as deputy governor. This ground – a loyal bastion of the Bhumjaithai Party affectionately dubbed the “blue bloc” – saw him rise through the ranks of public administration to follow his path into the Ministry of the Interior as inspector general.
The senator’s credentials shimmer on any résumé, showcasing a portfolio that spans academica, politics, marketing, and media. When the 2017 Constitution ushered in a revised senator selection system with six glittering professional categories to choose from, the sharp-witted Alongkot opted instead for a more strategic, albeit non-professional category. This slick maneuver allowed him to dodge the probing eyes of sector-specific scrutiny and instead slide deftly into the flow of influential networks.
The Senate election of June 26, 2024, was a day carved into political memory – and not merely for Alongkot’s impressive rank of fifth in the national poll with 43 votes and a cross-qualifying score of 67. It was his conduct that truly captivated the crowd. Observers noted him wandering like a curious cat around the polling venue, venturing near the sacred territory of ballot boxes and election official’s tables – areas clearly marked as no-go zones for candidates.
Transparency, a word oft-repeated but rarely wholeheartedly embraced within political circles, became an early ghost haunting Alongkot’s Senate residence. The senator’s feet were held to the fire over his opposition to a standing committee aimed at overseeing flood prevention policy. The “blue bloc” loyalists, senators included, seemed an ever-present majority in every vote tally, ringing alarm bells of collusion amidst the staccato rhythm of the 2024 Senate session.
When charges by the Election Commission against 55 senators made headlines, Alongkot countered with a theory of his own. He speculated that the probe involving the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) might have far exceeded boundaries set by Section 157 of the Criminal Code—a section dealing with malfeasance. He fired back, questioning the DSI’s motives, hinting at influence exerted by opposition lobbying. “The DSI is merely a statutory agency,” he articulated with the poise of a seasoned orator. “I, on the other hand, am a senator acting under the constitution—a higher legislative authority,” his declaration echoed, leaving the room with a resonance of authority that transcended language barriers.
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