All those senate twists

Thaksin. Photo clipped from NZZ

Asia Sentinel has a useful article on the travails of Thaksin Shinawatra. The author reckons Thaksin “is seeing his influence melting, his signature economic plan in trouble and is under threat of possible confinement that might cause him to flee the country again.” Perhaps, but what is clear is that the battle between Thaksin and his Puea Thai Party on one side and Newin Chidchob and his Bhum Jai Thai Perty is reaching a crescendo.

Newin

Thaksin’s current problems owe much to the anti-Thaksin lot, but is clearly also being pushed by Newin’s people. But Thaksin is not short of allies and political ammunition. The pressure being put on Bhum Jai Thai and Newin and his man, Anutin Charnvirakul on the scam Senate selection process, undoubtedly owes much to the pro-Thaksin lot.

Natthaporn Toprayoon is not pro-Thaksin, but the Thai Enquirer Facebook page post on the former adviser to the Ombudsman is worth considering.

Natthaporn “has filed a petition to remove 138 senators from office, accusing them of acting under the control of the Bhumjaithai Party.”

There seems no doubt that this complaint is accurate.

The post continues:

The move follows investigations into alleged vote-rigging in the 2024 Senate election. Complaints were filed against several senators and Bhumjaithai members. A joint panel of the Election Commission (EC) and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has already summoned some for questioning over the charges.

Natthaporn’s legal team submitted a petition to the EC today, which stated that according to a joint investigation by the DSI and EC, there is evidence of collusion based on witness accounts, circumstantial evidence, expert analyses in science and mathematics, financial records of 12,000 individuals, and phone data from 20,000 numbers. Irregularities were found, pointing to coordinated voting.

Witnesses also found voting slips and identified meeting spots where collusion was discussed. AI analysis reportedly confirmed that the 138 senators acted under Bhumjaithai’s influence.

The petition claims these senators have not remained neutral since taking office, instead backing Bhumjaithai and its key figures. Their bloc has dominated Senate votes, including selecting the Senate President, Vice Presidents, and committee heads. In 21 meetings and 48 votes in late November 2024, senators outside the “blue group” lost every vote. They also unanimously approved all nominees to independent agencies.

Such behavior is seen as violating Section 113, which requires senators to stay politically impartial. The alleged breach could lead to removal.

Natthaporn argues their actions undermine the constitutional monarchy system. He previously submitted a related petition to the Attorney General on May 15.

Bhum Jai Thai and its senators are fighting back, but the momentum seems to be with Thaksin and his people.

While it is the EC that is part of the investigation, questions need to be asked of the hopeless agency. How did not see what everyone else in the country saw: a massive manipulation and the appointment of senators who were clearly not qualified. The EC was clearly under orders, but from who? Guesses? And, can the EC failed in a selection process that cost a king’s ransom. Investigators need to look at the EC’s collusion.