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The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) in Thailand is set to question up to 1,200 individuals, including defeated senatorial candidates, regarding alleged rigging in last year's senatorial elections. The probe focuses on accusations that 138 out of 200 senators were involved in bloc-voting conspiracies orchestrated by those linked to the Bhumjaithai Party, under the influence of de facto leader Newin Chidchob.

 

These witnesses, including unsuccessful candidates who are on standby from last year’s elections, are accused of being paid to vote for specific competitors across multiple electoral levels. This scandal provokes demands from some reserve candidates for parliamentary action to back a DSI investigation into the matter. They allege voting manipulations secured victory for 138 senators through prepared scripts dictating particular candidate numbers during national-level races.

 

 

Election Commission Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee previously described certain voting practices witnessed as non-illegal. However, defeated candidates argue the election authority has ignored these rigging claims for months.

 

Further complicating the issue, some of the 138 involved senators have threatened legal retaliation against Justice Minister Thavi Sodsong and DSI Director-General Yutthana Praedum for ethics violations by initiating this probe. While the implicated senators are perceived allies of Bhumjaithai, Minister Sodsong is seen as loyal to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s family, reported Thai Newsroom.

 

-- 2025-03-03

 

 

This was a complete Farce !!  Corruption At its best  Senators should have been elected by the people

All elections in Thailand are a farce... this another one with corruption, and promised benefits, who are elected... And the EC must be dismantled as soon as possible.. They are the worst institution of all elections

The only surprise about this is it's taken so long to become public. The big surprise would be anyone being held accountable. A corrupt system protects the corrupt.

Clustericus Fonicatio.