Thai Senate election, 2008

Infobox Election
election_name = Thai Senate election, 2008
country = Thailand
type = legislative
ongoing = no
previous_election =
previous_year =
next_election =
next_year =
seats_for_election = 76 (of the 150) seats to the Senate of Thailand
election_date = March 2, 2008

leader1 =
party1 = None
leaders_seat1 =
last_election1 =
seats1 = 76
seat_change1 =
popular_vote1 =
percentage1 =

leader2 =
party2 = Appointed
leaders_seat2 =
last_election2 =
seats2 = 74
seat_change2 =
popular_vote2 =
percentage2 =

Senate elections were held in Thailand on 2 March 2008 for the first time under the new constitution. Voter turnout was 56%. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7273401.stm Low turnout in Thai Senate vote] BBC News, 3 March 2008] Results were expected on 9 March 2008. [ [http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=126275 Bangkok Post Breaking News ] ]

76 candidates were elected, one for each province, while 74 senators will be appointed by a selection panel headed by the Constitution Tribunal's president Virat Limvichai. Nominations for these seats were made by professional groups between 13 January and 18 January 2008, whereafter a panel appointed by the Electoral Commission vetted the nominees' credentials before forwarding the nominations to the selection panel. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6328814.html Thailand's Election Commission to organize senatorial election and selection early 2008] People's Daily 28 December 2007] The Thai Election Commission endorsed the 74 senators selected from the nominations. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6356796.html Thai Election Commission endorses appointed senators] People's Daily, 19 February 2008] The senators will serve six-year terms.

The appointed senators are considered to be closer to the outgoing military administration, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7273401.stm BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Low turnout in Thai Senate vote ] ] while among the elected senators a substantial number are closely connected to deposed former PM Thaksin. A prominent critic of Thaksin and anti-corruption activist also appeared to have been elected. [ [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g3F56V1DqndDjSBkeIf22Z3XvbLw AFP: Thaksin allies make strong showing in Thai Senate race ] ]

On 13 March 2008, the Senate speaker was elected. The former Appeals Court president Prasopsuk Boondej, a nominated senator, received 78 votes. Thaweesak Khidbanchong, considered to be close to former minister Newin Chidchob, received 45 votes; General Lertrat Ratanawanit, reportedly closely connected to the defunct coup-making Council for National Security received 15 votes, and Police Lieutenant-General Manoj Kraiwong, who had been criticised for having leaned onto the opposition Democrat Party, received six votes. [ [http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=3274 MCOT English News : Prasopsuk elected Speaker of Thai Senate ] ]

References