Senate clarifies absence of 33 senators during last Thursday’s prime ministerial vote

[webfact]

    
BANGKOK (NNT) - The Senate held an assembly today, with its president detailing the reasons why 33 senators were absent during July 13’s bicameral session when the first attempt at selecting a new prime minister transpired.

 

He also asked senators to refrain from voicing their views on a potential amendment of Article 272 of the Constitution before the matter officially becomes a Senate agenda.

 

President of the Senate Pornpetch Wichitcholchai presided over today’s (17 July) Senate meeting. Before tackling the meeting agendas, he reported to senators the reasons for certain senators having missed out on last Thursday’s bicameral meeting in parliament. That joint session was held so members of the upper and lower houses could vote for the new prime minister.

 

Pornpetch said there were three reasons given for senators having been absent on July 13. Two senators had been absent as they were performing their duty as senators by attending an ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) conference in China.

 

6 senators who were senior armed forces figures were absent because of other important duties. 9 other senators were absent because of necessary duties abroad which have been scheduled before the date for the bicameral meeting was finalized. Another 16 senators were on sick leave, meaning a total of 33 senators were absent on July 13.

 

Pornpetch said there were 43 senators who abstained from voting last Thursday, meaning there were 10 senators who attended the prime ministerial selection meeting but did not make a choice.

 

Addressing reports of senators being intimidated or having their privacy compromised, the president of the Senate said he has asked the police to provide protection for senate members and their families. He added he hoped those who perpetrated the intimidation or violation of the right to privacy would realize these are criminal acts.

 

Pornpetch revealed he has told senators to refrain from voicing their opinions on a potential amendment to Article 272 of the Constitution before the matter becomes an active agenda of the Senate.

 

by Namo Vananupong

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230718092634355

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-07-18

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

[bamnutsak]

Of course they weren't going to say anything, given their rank, status and privilege.

 

But only when called out by the public do they choose to respond.

 

If Senators cannot fulfill their sworn duty to the Senate then they should resign.

 

 

[Mavideol]

and He the President of the Senate could not come up with better excuses.... and durian smells bad, what type of banana republic is this

[Pink Mist]

A troll post and a post using a Quoted section from the OP which was altered have been removed.

[ikke1959]

He clarified the 33 absence senators.. Why did he not clarify why so many senators abstained from voting... That would be more interesting...and also why there was in the media that senators were pressed not to vote for Pita. It is easy to say that senators and family are intimidated, but who says that it are MFP supporters?? They probably did not intimidate senators not to vote for Pita

[spidermike007]

There is a mighty funny smell in the room. Smells like rotten fish. Smells like a giant lie, from a man lacking any sort of integrity, nor any barometer of truth.

 

 

[anchadian]

16 of the senators were sick, wow that's 6.4% of the total senate.

 

I hope they all received sickness benefit.

[2baht]

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

Another 16 senators were on sick leave,

Mental health? ????

[mania]

46 minutes ago, webfact said:

Pornpetch revealed he has told senators to refrain from voicing their opinions on a potential amendment to Article 272 of the Constitution before the matter becomes an active agenda of the Senate.

 

What is there to say?

 

They should know full well they are a treasonous byproduct of a coup that overthrew a legally elected government

 

They are paid millions of baht per year for their vote...millions stolen from the Thai citizenry

 

Their whole existence was based upon a lie & a cheating of the Thai citizenry they supposedly swore to protect & serve 

 

They deserve nothing less than prosecution for treason & there is no way this election should include their vote as they have never earned the right to a vote instead they have been paid for their wrong way vote.

 

 

Edited July 18, 2023 by mania

[SoilSpoil]

With a straight face!

[tomacht8]

The functional problem of the Senate is that they are unelected and thus have no mandate from the people of Thailand. When the decisions of the Senate go against the will of the majority of the population, tensions are inevitable.

[bob smith]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Another 16 senators were on sick leave,

That lazyitus is a killer you know!

[tomacht8]

Furthermore. If Senators or MPs are not present at the vote, the simple majority should be based only on the total number of people present. Example of 750 eligible voters only 600 are present. Then the simple majority would be 301 and no longer 376.

[Myran]

"6 senators who were senior armed forces figures were absent because of other important duties"

 

If their other duties are so important that they can't attend to their duties as senators, perhaps they shouldn't be senators?

[sammieuk1]

Everyone else were busy carrying large bags to Switzerland just in case ???? 

[billd766]

57 minutes ago, bob smith said:

That lazyitus is a killer you know!

I thought it was a back problem, similar to a backache when trying to get out of the mia noi's bed in the morning.  ????

[watchcat]

3 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

If Senators cannot fulfill their sworn duty to the Senate then they should resign.

3 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

 

Not resign. They should be sacked whithout any pension.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Another 16 senators were on sick leave,

Fisaco.

[bradiston]

Of the 43 non voters, they didn't answer when their names were called to vote presumably, 33 were absent with some sort of excuse. But 10 that weren't absent simply didn't vote at all. Not even an abstention. Asleep? Or just couldn't be arsxd?

[bradiston]

And here they are in all their splendour...

 

https://www.senate.go.th/view/1/Members/EN-US

[madmitch]

1 hour ago, bradiston said:

And here they are in all their splendour...

 

https://www.senate.go.th/view/1/Members/EN-US

Do they get a monthly supply of hair dye as one of their perks?

[RocketDog]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Addressing reports of senators being intimidated or having their privacy compromised, the president of the Senate said he has asked the police to provide protection for senate members and their families.

Hmmm.  Is that helpful or dangerous?

[jacko45k]

4 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Why did he not clarify why so many senators abstained from voting..

That is their choice and it is not  his role to apply hearsay to that decision.....

 

So  what did I read....11 were on  junkets, 6 found something else more important to do than vote for a PM, and 16 weren't feeling well. (No effort to turn up in hospital pajamas then like Naz Shah in the UK....)

[wwest5829]

2 hours ago, Myran said:

"6 senators who were senior armed forces figures were absent because of other important duties"

 

If their other duties are so important that they can't attend to their duties as senators, perhaps they shouldn't be senators?

They have cited their own conflict of interests.

[artotle]

6 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

He clarified the 33 absence senators.. Why did he not clarify why so many senators abstained from voting... That would be more interesting...and also why there was in the media that senators were pressed not to vote for Pita. It is easy to say that senators and family are intimidated, but who says that it are MFP supporters?? They probably did not intimidate senators not to vote for Pita

I'm sure it's a misunderstanding, no one has been intimidating them, families probably just -felt- intimidated because their fathers and husbands are spineless cucks and could not stand up for what's right.

[Sydebolle]

It could not be more Thai than this. If they have to take a position or decide on something else but food or fun, then they love to be ........ absent. 

Unless in an ICU on life support, all those absentees should be fired immediately without any possibility of ever taking a political position ever again. 

How can you be absent during such an important meeting, really! 

[newnative]

In a nutshell:  A collection of really, really, really lame excuses I would have been totally embarrassed to spout.

[zzaa09]

7 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

Of course they weren't going to say anything, given their rank, status and privilege.

 

But only when called out by the public do they choose to respond.

 

If Senators cannot fulfill their sworn duty to the Senate then they should resign.

 

 

Yet, it's not truly sworn duty - as they weren't elected. They sit in their positions by way of illegal and prejudicial selection. 

Highly contradictory....if not paradoxical. 

[scorecard]

7 hours ago, anchadian said:

16 of the senators were sick, wow that's 6.4% of the total senate.

 

I hope they all received sickness benefit.

And did they bring a sick report or a note from their mother?

[NanLaew]

5 hours ago, tomacht8 said:

Furthermore. If Senators or MPs are not present at the vote, the simple majority should be based only on the total number of people present. Example of 750 eligible voters only 600 are present. Then the simple majority would be 301 and no longer 376.

You mean the senatorial component of any vote should be prorated? Makes all sorts of sense but probably because isn't specifically stated in the current (or any) Constitution, it doesn't matter. Even if it was, all you would probably get is more abstentions. Turkeys don't vote for Christmas.