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Thailand’s Election Commission endorsed 200 new senators on Wednesday to replace a military-appointed upper house. Picture courtesy: (Suwanrumpha/AFP/Getty)
(The Post News)- The Election Commission of Thailand endorsed 200 new senators to replace the military-appointed upper house.
The new legislative body could potentially make it more difficult for the Pheu Thai party to enact its policies and maintain control as the party was already facing challenges in effectively governing.
Observers believe this shift in the composition of the Senate might complicate the political landscape for the Pheu Thai party.
The new upper chamber will not vote on who becomes prime minister, but it will maintain the power to scrutinise laws and nominate critical members of strong organisations like the Election Commission and the Constitutional Court.
According to Election Commission Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee, the delay in publishing the results of a difficult senate selection procedure that finished last month was caused by several complaints, which are currently being investigated.
“The Election Commission has passed a resolution to endorse 200 senators,” Sawaeng informed reporters.
According to preliminary senate election results, the upper chamber lacks major Pheu Thai affiliates while gaining its largest coalition partner, Bhumjaithai, which might serve as a proxy for the conservative-royalist establishment, observers said.
A schism between conservatives backed by the military and populist parties like Pheu Thai has long defined Thai politics, occasionally resulting in violent street protests and military coups in 2006 and 2014.
Mathis Lohatepanont, an independent political analyst, suggested that the election of a new Senate was an opportunity to usher in a Senate more inclined towards supporting Pheu Thai.
The new senate, which begins its five-year term this month, also highlights the declining influence of Pheu Thai patriarch and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose parties dominated Thai politics until last year’s election.
Pheu Thai has recently become embroiled in two ongoing court disputes that might see Thaksin imprisoned and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin removed from office.
Pheu Thai was defeated by the progressive Move Forward in the 2023 elections, but the winner was unable to seize power due to a blockade by the outgoing military-appointed Senate.
Instead, Pheu Thai created the government with the support of opposing military-backed parties and others, notably Bhumjaithai, a member of the previous ruling coalition.
Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of Bhumjaithai, is currently the deputy prime minister and interior minister of Thailand, having successfully advocated for the legalisation of cannabis last year.
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political analyst from Chulalongkorn University, observed that Bhumjaithai has made significant gains and is now positioning itself as a new pillar of support within the royalist establishment.
To change the military-drafted constitution enacted following the 2014 coup, one-third of the new upper chamber must agree.
This is a potential impediment for Pheu Thai, who made an electoral promise to alter the constitution.
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