EC asked to take legal action against 138 senators over alleged election collusion

The joint investigative panel of the Office of the Election Commission (OEC) and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is to ask the Election Commission (EC) to take legal action against 138 senators and 91 individuals, including members of the executive committee of the opposition Bhumjaithai party and associates, for alleged collusion in the election of senators last year, in violation of the Senate Election Act and the Constitution.

The decision was made at the panel’s meeting yesterday, which was chaired by Chanin Noilek, secretary-general of the EC, following almost a year-long and intensive investigation, during which several senators, failed candidates and outsiders were questioned.

If the EC agrees with the panel’s decision, it may take the case to the Constitutional Court, seeking dissolution of the Bhumjaithai party.

The Senate election last year was the first of its kind, in which candidates, representing several professional groups, voted among themselves at district, provincial and national levels.

Those who were elected at the final national level became senators.

It is alleged that candidates affiliated with the Bhumjaithai party were involved in collusion in several provinces, including Buri Ram, Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Satun, Loei, Amnart Charoen, Yasothon and Surin, according to iLaw.

It is alleged that more than half of the 200 senators, including the Senate Speaker and two deputies, are directly or indirectly affiliated with the Bhumjaithai party.

About eight months after the election, several failed candidates and senate reservists filed complaints with the EC and the DSI demanding an investigation.

The DSI, which supervised by Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, decided to conduct the investigation, claiming that it is a special case, despite protests from the implicated senators, claiming that the DSI had exceeded its authority.

The involvement of the DSI in the investigation is being widely seen as a political tactic by the Pheu Thai party, using the DSI to wreak revenge on the Bhumjaithai party.