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Junta gets list of Senate candidates to choose from


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Junta gets list of Senate candidates to choose from

By THE NATION WEEKEND

 

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File photo: Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan

 

FOUR HUNDRED Senate candidates have been shortlisted – with an Army source saying a significant number of them are military officers.

 

Their names were submitted yesterday to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).

 

The selection committee led by the junta’s No 2, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, met yesterday for the last time. Of the 400 people nominated, the junta will appoint 194 as members of the Upper House.

 

To fill out the 250-member Senate, 50 other candidates will emerge from the normal selection process with the assistance of the Election Commission (EC) and another six will be military or police commanders. 

 

The selection of senators is proceeding in line with the Constitution, which authorises the NCPO to continue filling the bulk of the Senate for the next five years. It requires candidates’ names to be submitted for junta consideration at least 15 days before a parliamentary election. 

 

A source on the selection committee said candidates were shortlisted based on their credentials and their knowledge of politics. The Senate’s job is to help guide the country through the post-election transition period and help choose the next prime minister, the source said. 

 

“Selecting the candidates wasn’t easy,” the source said. “We had to look for those who understand politics and can work alongside the elected members of the House of Representatives. So each candidate’s personality and social status are important. They have to be ‘accepted’ and they must work to overcome the perception that appointed senators are not good.” 

 

Though opposition has been strong to the idea of a junta-appointed Senate, the source insisted that the Upper House under the current Constitution is obliged to support the elected Lower House. The Senate is not meant to be an “outside factor” intervening in the work of an elected |government, the source |said. 

 

The appointed senators should be “understanding” and be able to communicate well with those who appointed them, the source added. 

 

The committee did not reveal the names submitted to the NCPO, but it is believed that many candidates are familiar faces closely tied to the ruling junta. 

 

Prawit’s brothers – Patcharawat and Sitwatchara – were mentioned, as were his close aides Boonruang Pholpanit, Wich Thephasadin na Ayutthaya, Wallop Raksanoh and Taweep Netniyom.

 

Meanwhile the pro-Shinawatra Thai Raksa Chart Party, which was dissolved on Thursday, began removing its election banners and online posts. 

 

EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma said on Friday its members could no longer campaign under the party’s name, though party executives banned from politics for 10 years could help other parties in the pro-Shinawatra camp with their campaigns. 

 

He warned them, however, to be careful and not be perceived as influencing the party they are helping, which could be unconstitutional. 

 

Non-executive members of the party have the right to jump to other parties, Jarungvith said.

 

The EC had begun disseminating information about the Thai Raksa Chart dissolution, with expatriate Thais already voting overseas, he said. Votes cast for the disbanded party will be declared void. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30365434

 

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-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-03-09

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5 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The selection of senators is proceeding in line with the Constitution, which authorises the NCPO to continue filling the bulk of the Senate for the next five years.

For the last week or so all I have been hearing is 'bird sip see' or Number 14 in this rural community. I guess it is to be expected as one of their former red shirt headquarters use to be a couple of villages away. They left after the latest coup but I guess they are now back in the running. It really doesn't bother me one way or the other and may the best party win. But to me it looks like a lot of wasted effort.

 

What many people fail to realize, is the new Constitution. Which is going to continue to be green for decades...

 

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Just now, Eligius said:

Spidey, don't forget that there was Yingluck. She was, in fact, Thailand's first female prime minister.

Thanks. Yes, and very popular she was, the charges against her were politically motivated. Did a good job in the absence of her brother, who was also fitted up.

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12 minutes ago, Spidey said:

Every single Thai that I've asked, admittedly mostly from Issan, have said that they will be voting for Pheu Thai. Also, their Prime Ministerial candidate, Sudarat Keyuraphan, seems very popular and her supporters have high hopes of her becoming the first female Prime Minister.

 

Unfortunately, they're all going to be disappointed. Although Pheu Thai and Khun Sudarat will win by a landslide, the junta controlled senate will elect Prayut as Prime minister, with the usual suspects as his cronies. 

 

No change here, junta continues to rule, democracy is just going to have to wait for another century.

 

Third world country, third world politics, but at least I'm happy, even if the Thai people aren't.

 

The only hope is that Pheu Thai can persuade other MPs to choose their candidate, or even another mutually acceptable one. If there's a big enough majority then it doesn't have to go the senate. But this is where the 60 day ratification comes into play; how many non-junta supporting candidates will be disqualified for spurious reasons? I'm petty sure that somehow the senate will be helping to choose Prayut as the new PM.

 

 

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2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“Selecting the candidates wasn’t easy,”

Of course it is not easy!

So many envelopes to open........so much counting to do............so many friends and relatives to consider and so many old favours to repay before the names of the successful candidates can be released.

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Hope the next elected Govt have the numbers and more importantly the balls to have a referendum on changing the constitution to make it that all voting members of the Govt are elected by popular vote and also in that referendum ask if national service should be ended.

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1 minute ago, Longcut said:

Is the rest of the world buying this Crap?

The rest of the World don't give a monkeys what happens here.  Thailand is seen as having little to no strategic value, except to that other bastion of liberal values and freedom, China, so it can stew in its own hypocracy as far as the West is concerned.  just look at the downgrading of a lot of the Embassies in Bangkok, tells you all you need to know.  

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1 hour ago, edwinchester said:

Hope the next elected Govt have the numbers and more importantly the balls to have a referendum on changing the constitution to make it that all voting members of the Govt are elected by popular vote and also in that referendum ask if national service should be ended.

They can't, the Military retain a veto in the new Constitution . 

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9 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Army source saying a significant number of them are military officers.

Some Thais in China see communist member Jack Ma as an inspiration.  There are no Jack Ma's in uniform in Thailand.  The Thai military never fails in disappointing its people.   

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Meanwhile, infrastructure projects abound, new highways, railways, bridges and other improvements to dams and water works. Apparently without the 30% corruption payments common to the former TRT government. I for one am not looking forward to a return of democracy "Thaksin" style.

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1 hour ago, yellowboat said:

 

Some Thais in China see communist member Jack Ma as an inspiration.  There are no Jack Ma's in uniform in Thailand.  The Thai military never fails in disappointing its people.   

My wife's nephew is in the army and they have already been told who they better vote for. Their ballots will actually be checked. Shows what kind of election this is going to be.

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