12 agencies to lend hand in Senate picks
The Election Commission (EC) has secured cooperation from 12 state agencies in preparing for the selection of senators, the process of which is expected to be completed by late December.
EC chairman Itthiporn Boonprakong said the poll agency needs support mainly in examining and verifying qualifications of senatorial candidates and providing public safety during the voting.
The first batch of 250 senators will be selected under provisional clauses of the charter, with the EC responsible for the intra-group vote in which 200 shortlisted candidates will be forwarded to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to pick 50.
Of the remaining 200 senators, 194 will be chosen by the NCPO while the other six will comprise the three armed forces leaders, the supreme commander, the defence permanent secretary and the national police chief. Among the agencies enlisted to help the EC are the Department of Provincial Administration, the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, and the Royal Thai Police.
Mr Itthiporn said the EC has just five days to examine the qualifications of Senate candidates who can run as independents or as representatives of associations which must first register with the EC.
He said the associations seeking to field candidates have until Oct 24 to register and they must operate a branch in the provinces where they want to contest. Each association can choose only one out of 10 social or professional groups and field one candidate per province only.
According to Mr Itthiporn, the EC will complete the examination of the associations’ qualifications by Nov 5 so they can make preparations for the senate selection.
EC secretary-general Jarungvith Phumma said the candidates’ names will not be disclosed during the application period, but they will published after applications are closed.
However, he i nsisted the EC will not prohibit candidates f rom giving media interviews.
A royal decree calling for the selection of senators is expected to take effect no later than Nov 15 and candidacy registration will run from Nov 26-30. Candidates will choose from among themselves in district level, provincial level, and national level voting.
On Oct 5, a source in the EC said the Nov 15 royal decree was to ensure the vote is completed before the New Year holiday.
The EC has agreed to push forward senator selection following a meeting with provincial governors and district chiefs who will help organise the vote, the source said.
Under the original timeline, the royal decree was likely to take effect on Nov 30 and candidacy registration was to begin in early December.
Voting at district level was expected to take place on Dec 30 and a week later, on Jan 6, provincial-level voting was to be held. The national selection should have proceeded within 10 days of the provincial vote. Local authorities have expressed concern this may be inconvenient due to the long New Year break.