The Election Commission of Thailand has officially announced the endorsement of 200 new senators, replacing the military-appointed upper house. This development signifies a significant change in the country’s legislative body, and it is expected to pose challenges for the ruling Pheu Thai party.
While the new senate will not be involved in the process of appointing the prime minister, it will have the authority to review laws and appoint crucial members of influential organizations such as the Election Commission and the Constitutional Court. This shift in power dynamics could potentially make it more difficult for the Pheu Thai party to effectively govern.
According to Sawaeng Boonmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission, the announcement of the new senators was delayed due to various complaints that needed to be thoroughly examined. However, the Election Commission has now resolved to endorse the 200 senators.
Preliminary results of the senate selection process indicate that the new upper house will not include key members affiliated with the Pheu Thai party. Instead, it is anticipated that the party’s largest coalition partner, Bhumjaithai, will experience a gain in representation. This outcome has led analysts to speculate that Bhumjaithai could potentially align itself with the conservative-royalist establishment.
Thailand’s political landscape has long been shaped by a divide between the conservative faction, supported by the military, and populist parties such as Pheu Thai. This division has, at times, resulted in violent street protests and military interventions. The recent senate selection was seen as an opportunity to usher in a more Pheu Thai-friendly upper house. However, this expectation has not materialized, according to Mathis Lohatepanont, an independent political analyst.
The implications of this new senate structure are likely to reverberate across Thailand’s political sphere, setting the stage for potential shifts in power dynamics and governance.
This article was written with information from Reuters.
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