Thai Senate meets to select Election Commissioners

BANGKOK, Sept 8 (TNA) - Thailand's Senate began meeting Friday in its special session to select a new Election Commission (EC) panel to organise the country's next general election scheduled for October 15, a major step to break the political impasse which cast a cloud over one of the region's most dynamic economies for months.

The Senate will vote on five new election commissioners from among an approved list of 10 finalists following completion of the Senate's 22-member investigation panel review of their personal backgrounds and qualifications.

All the candidates were nominated by the Supreme Court last month to replace the former Election Commission, whose remaining three members resigned in disgrace in August after being jailed for mishandling the April 2 election and the following by-elections, Another EC member had previously resigned, while a fifth member is deceased.

The finalists are Kaewsan Atibhodi, former senator and law lecturer, Wicha Mahakhun, chief justice of the Juvenile and Family Division of the Supreme Court,Wasan Soipisut, head of the Supreme Court Labour Division, Apichart Sukhakkanon, chief justice of the Environment Division of the Supreme Court, Udom Fuangfung, senior judge of the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court, Somchai Jung-prasert,chief of the Supreme Court judges'quorum, Prapan Naikowit, deputy attorney-general, Sumet Oupanisakorn , senior judge of the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court, Nam Yimyaem, former deputy Supreme Court president and Sodsri Satayathum, a senior Supreme Court judge and the only female nomimee.

Less than three weeks after the royal decree calling for the next general election took effect on August 24, Cabinet Secretary-General Rongpol Charoenphanthu conceded on Thursday that new poll may need to be
postponed despite already having been scheduled for mid-October as the new election body will have insufficient time to prepare for the poll.

He said the new commission will be consulted on any delay of the next poll.

TNA