Academic: Senate collusion ruling lowers public trust

Matichon•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

Professor Pannachada Siriwannabut analyzes the political impact of the Election Commission's decision regarding the 2024 Senate elections.

•The Election Commission decided to file lawsuits against 77 individuals out of 427 accused in the 2024 Senate election case.
•26 of those prosecuted are Senators, who Professor Pannachada Siriwannabut links clearly to the Bhumjaithai Party.
•Professor Pannachada Siriwannabut states that the situation reduces public confidence in politics and independent organizations.

Overview

•The Election Commission filed criminal charges and sent 77 cases to the Supreme Court regarding the 2024 Senate elections.
•Out of the total accused, 26 individuals prosecuted are Senators.
•Professor Pannachada Siriwannabut stated on September 15 that the prosecution of the 26 Senators shows a clear connection to the Bhumjaithai Party.
•Professor Pannachada Siriwannabut believes the ruling reduces public confidence, which may make the country easier to control.
•Professor Pannachada Siriwannabut views street protests as not being the solution, suggesting the justice system should be used instead.
•Professor Pannachada Siriwannabut observes that the popularity of the Bhumjaithai Party has been continuously declining.
•Professor Pannachada Siriwannabut identifies the Thai Chuay Thai Plus policy as a means for the Bhumjaithai Party to maintain popularity among a certain group of people.
•Professor Pannachada Siriwannabut suggests monitoring how opposition parties and opponents will proceed with lawsuits under Section 157.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Pannachada Siriwannabut

"I believe it may be difficult to predict the future form because the blue network covers many parts, making politics unreliable and independent monitoring bodies receive less public confidence."

มองว่าหลังจากนี้คาดอาจจะคาดการณ์อะไรได้ลำบากว่าจะออกมาในรูปแบบไหน เพราะเครือข่ายสีน้ำเงินครอบคลุมหลายส่วน จะทำให้การเมืองไม่มีความน่าเชื่อถือ องค์กรอิสระที่มีหน้าที่ตรวจสอบได้รับความเชื่อมั่นจากประชาชนน้อยลงตามลำดับ

Key Entities

Person

Pannachada Siriwannabut(ศ.ดร.พรรณชฎา ศิริวรรณบุศย์)

Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Mahidol University and a political scientist.

Organization

Election Commission(คณะกรรมการการเลือกตั้ง)

The body that decided to prosecute 77 individuals regarding the 2024 Senate elections.

Supreme Court(ศาลฎีกา)ℹ️

The court to which the Election Commission sent the prosecution cases.

Bhumjaithai Party(พรรคภูมิใจไทย)ℹ️

A political party linked to the prosecuted Senators and the initiator of the Thai Chuay Thai Plus policy.

Mahidol University(มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล)ℹ️

The institution where Professor Pannachada Siriwannabut serves as Dean.

Law

Section 157(มาตรา 157)

The legal provision that opposition parties may use to file lawsuits against the Election Commission.

Policy

Thai Chuay Thai Plus(ไทยช่วยไทยพลัส)

A policy of the Bhumjaithai Party intended to maintain popularity and confidence.