The application deadline for those interested in running in the Senate election is set for May 13, three days after the current senators complete their terms.

 

Today, the Cabinet agreed to the timeline for the election, which has been criticised as being overly complex as proposed by the Election Commission (EC), and an additional 227 million baht from the Central Fund for the EC to stage the Senate elections on top of about Bt1.2 billion allocated to the EC for the election purposes, said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-04-23

 

 

 

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Yeah right! Like the senate members haven't already been chosen.

9 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

and an additional 227 million baht from the Central Fund for the EC to stage the Senate elections

What?  More like 227 million added to the disappearing fund.

Can any business be conducted immediately after their terms end on May 10?

1 hour ago, MangoKorat said:

Yeah right! Like the senate members haven't already been chosen.

This time they're being elected. It will be interesting to see what happens but maybe you have a point. As we all well know being elected through the 'democratic' process of an election does not mean you'll be elected. I'm sure there's been a whole lot of dirty tricks conceived to make sure the military/elite keep control of the majority of the senate. Going to be interesting. The military, the elite and PTP do not want what the people of Thailand want. REFORM.

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

This time they're being elected. It will be interesting to see what happens but maybe you have a point. As we all well know being elected through the 'democratic' process of an election does not mean you'll be elected. I'm sure there's been a whole lot of dirty tricks conceived to make sure the military/elite keep control of the majority of the senate. Going to be interesting. The military, the elite and PTP do not want what the people of Thailand want. REFORM.

Not an election as we understand it. More like a selection.

If you want to understand how it works, it's all explained here:

https://www.ilaw.or.th/articles/20706

Quote:

What the constitutional drafters envisioned as an election among an exclusive club of the nonpartisan experts will turn out to be an election for the elderly, wealthy, and well-connected few.

25 minutes ago, candide said:

Not an election as we understand it. More like a selection.

If you want to understand how it works, it's all explained here:

https://www.ilaw.or.th/articles/20706

Quote:

What the constitutional drafters envisioned as an election among an exclusive club of the nonpartisan experts will turn out to be an election for the elderly, wealthy, and well-connected few.

Cheers. So in no way representative of the people's wishes and fully open to corruption. Not what I'd call a democratic process in electing a senate and those who will sit within.

Edit: Having read this well done @candide. Everyone on here should read this. It is an opininion piece but it makes for interesting reading as well as despair. The whole thing is bent. The senate should be elected by the people not this inbred, corrupt, elitist rubbish for the chosen few. The term democracy has no place in this so-called election. 

Yes, laughable really. And has that common Thai characteristic: Complicated to the nth degree.

 

The thing about complexity - as for example in the drafting and interpreting of Thai laws - is that it gives the stringpullers and the lawbreakers wriggle room.

7 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Cheers. So in no way representative of the people's wishes and fully open to corruption. Not what I'd call a democratic process in electing a senate and those who will sit within.

That was expected as the constitution was written under the military Junta.

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Today, the Cabinet agreed to the timeline for the election,

Selection

13 hours ago, dinsdale said:

This time they're being elected.

This ("elected") may be inexact and/or misleading.

"Over 210,000 Thais have applied to fill 200 Senate seats: EC", March 3, 2024 https://www.nationthailand.com

The Senate has 250 members of which only 200 will be available for "replacement." Who are the 50 "untouchables?" Former junta members or junta appointees?

Replacement will be done by a "selection process," not an entire public election process per se. 

• "Eligible candidates will enter the self-selection process within 20 categories wherein a candidate can only qualify for one category" as per EC oversight.
• "Once representatives are chosen at the district level, they will proceed to self-select at the provincial level."
• From the provincial level the selected candidates will go through a self-selection process at the national level.
• Then the top scoring 10 candidates from each of 20 categories will be appointed as Senators.

Do any of these "self-selection" processes look like a democratic election process by the Thai electorate at large?

 

A Boys' Club to which the hoi poloi are not invited.  What a farce & typically Thai.

Candidacy registration: voluntary or as directed by military folks?

 

And according to the methods (post just above) there is no election

therefor the Thai public not having a right / a chance to select the senators.  

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

This ("elected") may be inexact and/or misleading.

"Over 210,000 Thais have applied to fill 200 Senate seats: EC", March 3, 2024 https://www.nationthailand.com

The Senate has 250 members of which only 200 will be available for "replacement." Who are the 50 "untouchables?" Former junta members or junta appointees?

Replacement will be done by a "selection process," not an entire public election process per se. 

• "Eligible candidates will enter the self-selection process within 20 categories wherein a candidate can only qualify for one category" as per EC oversight.
• "Once representatives are chosen at the district level, they will proceed to self-select at the provincial level."
• From the provincial level the selected candidates will go through a self-selection process at the national level.
• Then the top scoring 10 candidates from each of 20 categories will be appointed as Senators.

Do any of these "self-selection" processes look like a democratic election process by the Thai electorate at large?

 

NO.

"Over 210,000 people have informed the Election Commission (EC) of their wish to run as a Senate candidate and the EC expects at least 100,000 candidates to run."

 

More like, "the EC will allow 100,000 candidates to run". Why would 210,000 people inform the EC they wish to run and then suddenly 110,000 decide they don't want to? Farcical

5 hours ago, Srikcir said:

The Senate has 250 members of which only 200 will be available for "replacement." Who are the 50 "untouchables?"

My understanding (but I - or anyone else - may be wrong) is that the new Senate will be only 200 seats, not 250.

 

The basic problem in all of this is that, to change the Constitution, you have to use the provisions of the current Constitution as devised by the fascist puppets. If you want to maintain the façade of law-obeying conformity, you don't have any other way of attempting to move forward. In other words, your feet are stuck in glue before you even begin.