On July 23rd, 2024, at 9:30 AM, the recently selected 200 member Senate met for the first time at Parliament. The meeting was held to elect the Senate President and two Vice Presidents. The most senior member, the temporary chairman Police Lieutenant General Yutthana Thaipakdee, managed the process. He laid out the agenda for their first meeting, invited all senators to swear in, and discussed the process for nominations and elections. Senator Mongkol Surasajja, a past governor of Buri Ram, was nominated for the Senate President position by General Kriangkrai Srirak. Following his nomination, Dr. Premsak Piayura and Ms. Nanthana Nanthawaropas were also recommended for the role.

 

After short introductions by all nominees, a private vote was conducted. Senator Mongkol Surasajja won with a total of 159 votes, while Dr. Premsak collected 13 votes and Ms. Nanthana gained 19. Four senators chose not to vote and there were five uncounted votes.

 

Senator Mongkol, a leading figure from the "Blue" group believed to be affiliated with the Bhumjaithai Party (represented by the color blue), had previously been nominated for Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry in 2008 but left the nomination to prevent internal disputes.

 

 

He is known for his strong association with Newin Chidchob of the Bhumjaithai Party and is rumored to have connections with a dominant "Ban Yai" (big house) political family in Buriram, the base of the Bhumjaithai Party.

 

After swearing in on July 11th, 2024, Mongkol chose not to comment on media inquiries about his Senate President candidacy. He attributed this decision to his unfamiliarity with the role and his lack of legislative work experience, reported by The Pattaya News.

 

Photo: The Pattaya News

 

-- 2024-07-23

 

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19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The meeting was held to elect the Senate President and two Vice Presidents. The most senior member, the temporary chairman Police Lieutenant General Yutthana Thaipakdee, managed the process.

Some things never change...

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He attributed this decision to his unfamiliarity with the role and his lack of legislative work experience

So it's not what you know but who you know.

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

recently selected 200 member Senate met for the first time at Parliament.

That's aside from the 50 Senate "untouchables."