Senate to Vote on 2 Election Commissioners Feb 26, Controversy Brews

Matichon•Politics•6h ago

Reader Briefing

Thai Senate to convene on February 26, 2026, to urgently approve two Election Commissioners amid ethical concerns raised by a Senator.

•The Senate President has scheduled a meeting for February 26, 2026, at 9:30 AM.
•A key agenda item is the urgent approval of two proposed Election Commissioners: Mr. Chirut Witsanachit and Mr. Monthon Sudprasert.
•Senator Thevachai Maneechai plans to propose delaying the approval due to ongoing investigations into senators for alleged bid-rigging, citing potential conflicts of interest.

Overview

•Senate President issued a notice on February 17, 2026, scheduling a meeting of the Senate.
•The Senate meeting is scheduled for February 26, 2026, at 9:30 AM.
•The Senate President released a letter calling for the meeting to discuss urgent matters.
•The meeting will consider approving two nominees for the Election Commission (ECT) positions.
•The nominated Election Commissioners are Mr. Chirut Witsanachit and Mr. Monthon Sudprasert.
•The nominations are to replace Mr. Lert-Wi-rot Kowattana and Mr. Thitichat Noochana who have completed their terms.
•Senator Thevachai Maneechai intends to submit a motion to postpone the ECT approval.
•Senator Thevachai Maneechai's motion is to prevent conflicts of interest, as many senators are currently under investigation for bid-rigging allegations.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Thevachai Maneechai

"Most senators in this batch are accused in the 'influencer' case and are under investigation, thus the Senate should not be involved with parties in the case, especially approving new Election Commissioners."

สมาชิกวุฒิสภาส่วนใหญ่ชุดนี้เป็นผู้ถูกกล่าวหาในคดีฮั้ว สว. อยู่ระหว่างการสืบสวนคดี จึงเห็นว่าวุฒิสภาไม่ควรมีความสัมพันธ์เกี่ยวข้องกับคู่ความในคดี โดยเฉพาะการให้ความเห็นชอบ กกต.ใหม่

Key Entities

Person

Senate President(ประธานวุฒิสภา)

The individual who issued the notice for the Senate meeting on February 26, 2026.

Chirut Witsanachit(จิรุตม์ วิศาลจิตร)

Nominee for Election Commissioner, former Director-General of the Department of Land Transport.

Monthon Sudprasert(มณฑล สุดประเสริฐ)

Nominee for Election Commissioner, former Director-General of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Mr. Lert-Wi-rot Kowattana(นายเลิศวิโรจน์ โกวัฒนะ)

Outgoing Election Commissioner whose term is ending, necessitating a replacement.

Mr. Thitichat Noochana(นายฐิติเชฏฐ์ นุชนาฏ)

Outgoing Election Commissioner whose term is ending, necessitating a replacement.

Mr. Yutthana Sayochakorn(นายยุทธนา สาโยชนกร)

Individual whose ethical background is to be reviewed by a new select committee.

Deputy Director of the Budget Bureau(รองผู้อำนวยการสำนักงบประมาณ)

Mr. Yutthana Sayochakorn's former title.

Mr. Suchin Chaiyachum Sak(นายสุจินต์ ไชยชุมศักดิ์)

Nominee for Ombudsman, former Governor of Nonthaburi.

Senator Thevachai Maneechai(นายเทวฤทธิ์ มณีฉาย)

Senator who plans to propose delaying the approval of Election Commissioner nominees due to concerns about conflicts of interest.

Organization

Senate(วุฒิสภา)

The legislative body scheduled to convene on February 26, 2026, to vote on Election Commissioner nominees.

Election Commission (ECT)(กกต.)

The organization for which two new commissioners are to be approved during the Senate meeting.

Ombudsman(ผู้ตรวจการแผ่นดิน)

The position for which Mr. Suchin Chaiyachum Sak has been nominated.