On a bright, somewhat tense day, July 23, 2024, senators converged for a pivotal meeting, looking rather official and stern in a photo snapped by Chanat Katanyu. This gathering was anything but ordinary; it was a day when the Senate decided to forge ahead with crucial votes, despite whispers of controversies and looming legitimacy concerns whispered by some minority senators.
The Senate’s agenda ignited quite the spectacle when it resolved on Friday to elect new members for independent organizations, seemingly unfazed by the shrill warnings echoing from a faction of minority senators. These senators, along with certain activists, implored the Senate to halt its power play in light of the cloud of investigations into last year’s rather flamboyant Senate elections. Whispers of vote-rigging and money-laundering within those hallowed halls were not just figments of imagination anymore.
In a display of numerical prowess, a majority secured the nomination of a fresh face in the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) while also assembling panels for vetting candidates for other public independent bodies. This decisive step arrived on the heels of a dramatic Thursday, when 125 out of 200 senators sent a motion to postpone the vetting process sputtering into a hard wall of rejection.
This did not sit well with a cadre of minority senators, among them the fiery Dr. Premsak Piayura and the ever-stalwart Nantana Nantavaropas. They took a stand, or more accurately, made a theatrical exit on Friday, refusing to partake in what they deemed an ill-fated vetting charade.
The shadows over 120 senators deepened, as they came under investigation from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Election Commission. Allegations of nationwide electoral shenanigans during the June 2024 polls were not easy to brush aside. The suspicion needle danced primarily on the “blue bloc” senators, a moniker denoting a faction with ties to the Bhumjaithai Party—second in command of the government coalition.
The final Senate vote saga, an extraordinary tale cast on June 26 of the previous year, drew widespread attention with an uncanny skewness and a notable tally of victors from Bhumjaithai’s stronghold territories. All of this added layers to the argument put forth by the minority senators: filling roles in watchdog organizations with senators still under investigation was akin to poachers appointing their own gamekeepers.
Ms. Nantana articulated concerns about 92 senators with pending complaints of meddling in DSI and Election Commission affairs. Going ahead with the vetting despite this could paint the Senate with an unflattering brush of conflict of interest and stir further probes.
In a parallel tune, Dr. Premsak warned that steamrolling forward could badly bruise the Senate’s trust credentials and unleash unwelcome consequences.
However, Pol Maj Gen Chattawat Saengpetch, unabashedly shrugged off these harbingers of doom. With a wave, he dismissed the investigation against the senators as being sans legitimacy, asserting that the Senate had no reason to pause. He even claimed that the vetting process was more legitimate than meets the eye, involving checks with the relevant agencies, and not just the Senate pulling strings behind a veil.
And so, after a spirited debate, 125 senators rallied to toss aside the motion, revealing a majority unfazed by protestations. With 37 siding with caution and 12 playing Switzerland with abstentions, the Senate pressed on!
A key victory was the induction of Piansak Sombatthong, director-general for Public Prosecution Region 2, as a new torchbearer for NACC. In a fashion straight out of a mystery novel’s closed-door caucus, Piansak clinched 138 votes, with only two dissidents and 13 abstentions shadowed him.
Meanwhile, promise turned to regret for candidates like Prakob Leenapesanant, who barely navigated past 60 votes, and Prachuap Tantinont, who managed a mere 14 before facing an unforgiving 108-vote reprobation.
Amidst this political chess, three committees were formed to sift through candidates for the Election Commission, the Constitutional Court, and the Office of the Attorney-General, each with a two-month ticking clock to complete their scrutiny.
In another intriguing development, Friday saw the EC’s investigation committee summoning another batch of 22 senators to unravel the mysteries behind existing allegations, nudging the tally to 127 senators under the investigative scanner. Names of interest included Pornperm Thongsri, adding familial intrigue to the already tangled Bhumjaithai saga. His brother, Songsak Thongsri, is a Bhumjaithai stalwart with a history as deputy interior minister.
Amid the upheaval, Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, opted for a diplomatic stance, carefully detaching both himself and the party from the unsavory spectacle of alleged Senate election mischief.
In a closing note, Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam, wearied guardian of the DSI, noted the shift in momentum, stating over 60 witnesses had shared their narratives on the intriguing subject of alleged money-laundering, examined independently of the Senate’s grand electoral caper.
As the saga continues to unfurl, the Senate, with all its players, plots, and ploys, offers a captivating storyline of power, controversy, and countless chapters to come.
I can’t believe the Senate went ahead with those votes despite the ongoing investigations! What are they thinking?
It’s all just a power grab, David. The majority doesn’t care about integrity anymore.
And it seems like the investigations are just being shrugged off. How can they expect public trust with this approach?
Honestly, this is just typical politics. They all do it. Are we really surprised anymore?
You have a point, but at some point, things have to change, right?
It’s ridiculous to think that senators under investigation can make decisions about the judicial bodies. Isn’t that a conflict of interest?
Absolutely, Samantha. But it seems like conflict of interest doesn’t matter when you have the majority on your side.
And with people like Dr. Premsak walking out, how long till others follow suit?
If the Senate elections were as rigged as people say, then the whole system is a joke. It’s like they’re all in on it.
Isn’t it dangerous to just ignore the investigations? This could set a precedent for future elections.
Julia, it sets a terrible precedent, indeed. This could underline permanent damage to democratic processes.
Interesting how the Bhumjaithai Party’s narrative is unfolding here. Are they the silent puppeteers?
Wait, is the Senate vote about new members or fixing old issues? This article gets confusing at parts.
It’s about appointing new members despite ongoing controversies. The Senate seems to be ignoring the latter.
Thanks, Alice. Why don’t they just resolve these investigations first?
Y’all talking about politics, but what about the whistleblowers? Imagine the danger they’re in!
Exactly, Mina. Whistleblowers are the unsung heroes but often forgotten in these power plays.
As a student learning about government, this is like the worst kind of example to read about!
125 out of 200 senators ignored the motion to halt the process? That speaks volumes about our current state.
What a mess. It reminds me of a bad drama series. Where’s the accountability in all this?
Honestly, Zara, even a drama series couldn’t write something so convoluted with this many twists!
So what’s next? More investigations or even more shady appointments?
This is like watching a car crash in slow motion. You know it’s going to end badly, but you can’t look away.