The Election Commission (EC) has announced the schedule for the forthcoming Senate election, following a royal decree issued on May 11, which coincided with the expiration of the current Senate’s term. Candidates can submit their applications at district offices nationwide from May 20-24, including the Visakha Bucha Day.
The new Senate will consist of 200 members representing 20 professional groups. Unlike typical elections, these members will not be directly elected by the public. Instead, they will be selected through a series of intra- and inter-professional group elections at the district, provincial, and national levels. District-level elections are scheduled for June 9, provincial elections for June 16, and the final national-level elections for June 26.
To address concerns about the complexity of the election process and the anticipated low turnout of candidates, the EC has scheduled an urgent media meeting to discuss the Senate poll and educate the media on the roles and responsibilities of both incoming and outgoing senators.
EC Secretary-General Sawang Boonmee has affirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting the election within the legally mandated 60-day period. However, several lawmakers recently raised concerns about the demanding nature of the election process, noting that several potential candidates have decided not to run due to the complexity and cost of the multi-tier system. (NNT)
