Thai Constitutional Court gives green light to Senate election

The Constitutional Court of Thailand ruled unanimously on June 18 that the Senate election did not breach the charter, clearing the way for the poll to proceed to its final step next week.

A polling station for the district-level Senate election in Huai district of Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: VNA)
A polling station for the district-level Senate election in Huai district of Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: VNA)

Bangkok (VNA) - The Constitutional Court of Thailand ruled unanimously on June 18 that the Senate election did not breach the charter, clearing the way for the poll to proceed to its final step next week.

All nine judges on the panel agreed that four sections (Articles 36, 40, 41 and 42) of the organic law on the composition of the Senate election do not violate Article 107 of the Constitution as claimed by some senatorial candidates.

Following the court's ruling, the Election Commission (EC) of Thailand confirmed that the national-level Senate election will take place on June 26 as originally scheduled.

The final phase of the election will be held at IMPACT Forum, a convention centre in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi province.

In the last stage, 3,080 winners representing 20 professional and social fields from the previous rounds will vie for 200 seats in the Upper House.

On June 17, caretaker senator Somchai Swangkarn urged the EC to expedite an investigation into alleged irregularities in the June 16 provincial-level Senate election after some candidates in Buri Ram province received an unusually high number of votes./.

VNA

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