‘Itim’ asks the Election Commission when the regulations will be announced regarding selection. The Senate will then be finished.

April 17, 2024 – Mr. Parit Watcharasinthu, list MP for the Progressive Party (K.K.), posted on Facebook on the topic “What time will all the regulations and announcements of the Election Commission regarding the selection of senators be completed?” stated that in less than 1 month, the current set of senators will expire and we will officially enter the process of selecting a new set of senators.

But counting until today All criteria and rules related to the said process have not been released to the public, although Election Commission representatives have explained them at a meeting of the Political Development Committee. at the House of Representatives on March 28 that all remaining regulations and announcements It should be completed and published before the Songkran festival.

Among the regulations and announcements that have not yet been published, two are particularly important in providing clarity on questions that many people have. (Especially those interested in running for Senate) still have many questions.

1. Announcement regarding the qualifications of 20 occupational groups – such as detailed definitions of each occupational group that S.S. applicants must select in applying for selection.

2. Regulations regarding the introduction of candidates – for example, how can candidates introduce themselves and campaign? Can a candidate announce their position or guidelines for performing their duties (such as their position on amending the Constitution)? How can the general public introduce themselves and campaign for the candidates they support?

I sincerely hope that the Election Commission will:
(1) Accelerate conclusions and publish them. Regulations/Announcements by “as soon as possible”

(2) Design rules and regulations in Regulations/announcements to be as “open” as possible so that
– (i) Each applicant has introduced himself as comprehensively as possible.
– (ii) Applicants (who will have the right to elect Senators) have access to the most comprehensive information about other applicants for consideration.
– (iii) The people (even if they do not have the right to directly elect senators) can participate in the process as widely as possible.

The “slower” the said regulations are, and the more “restrictive” they are, the more ambiguity that follows. The more you risk complicating an already extremely complicated process. There are more practical problems than ever before. This may affect the fairness and fairness of the entire process.

There is one concern that cannot be denied. That is, if the process of selecting senators has problems and leads to many complaints, so that the Election Commission is not ready to confirm that the selection has been made. “It is correct, honest, and just.” The Election Commission has the opportunity to not announce the results of the selection of a new set of senators (according to the regulations regarding the selection of senators, Article 154), which will make the set of 250 senators. Currently acting indefinitely. Even though there is no power according to the transitional provisions. But they will have powers equivalent to the new set of senators that are being selected (such as the power to veto constitutional amendments Power to recognize Constitutional Court judges – office holders in independent organizations)