Academics point out that the system for selecting senators is complicated, resulting in few applicants.

Thammasat University, Academics point out that the system for selecting senators is complicated. resulting in few applicants and being eliminated without any fault, urging the Election Commission to clearly solve the problem Said that we must keep an eye on the movement to "postpone, cancel, abandon" the selection of senators. Center for Law Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, together with iLaw and We Watch, organized a seminar 'How to solve the problem of selecting Senators in 2024? Requests from the people to the Election Commission" with Mr. Parinya Thewanaruemitkul Director of the Law Center, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University, Mr. Phichai Rattanadilok Na Phuket, Director of the Doctor of Philosophy Program Department of Politics and Development Strategy National Institute of Development Administration, Mr. Yingcheep Atchanon, Executive Director of iLaw, and Mr. Krit Saengsurin, We Watch representative, joined the discussion. Mr. Parinya said that the problem of selecting senators is the whole sys tem. The more steps, the more problems. So I found a way to make it difficult. If it were an appointment system, it would be said that I don't dare to vote. So it turned out to be a chaotic system. In some districts, there is only 1 candidate. How is that possible? Is the Election Commission working in a system that has too little connection with the people? Many people in the district There will be only 1 person applying. How will this be resolved? Because choosing to choose yourself is not possible. Districts with only 1 person were eliminated. 'People who paid 2,500 baht and all the hassle, suddenly had their rights disqualified. This one is definitely wrong. Achan Meechai made a mistake. There are less than two occupational groups in each district. What should we do? And in a district where there is only one candidate, what to do? Both the law and the Election Commission itself missed the mark. How is it publicized? which when the applicant has not arrived must advance to the provincial group. Or, anothe r way, if interpreted according to the letter that must have scores from the Election Commission, it must be announced immediately. So that those who have been disqualified can appeal to the Administrative Court. If you want to disqualify anyone Because the district has only one applicant. Or there are only two groups The applicant will then have to petition the Administrative Court,' Mr. Parinya said. Mr. Parinya emphasized that this matter is a matter that people applied for. And it's not a matter of losing a foul. It cannot be called that. Because the people have not done anything wrong, therefore, the Election Commission must interpret and give the people their rights. 'The most urgent issue is a district that has only one applicant and less than three career groups and cannot cross-select. The rights of the people must be taken into consideration,' Mr. Parinya said. While Mr. Phichai said that the selection of senators reflects some implications. is to set a trap for democracy to cause chaos Until som eone uses it to attack him or finds a problem to prevent him from following. The person who writes the system writes from a base of thought. who do not want the people to vote Who already knew that choosing among themselves would require some hazing. Probably foresaw that there would be problems many times in writing the constitution. The elite set the trap. In the end, he came back and strangled himself in many ways. I couldn't imagine that something like that would happen. 'What needs to be watched now is the movement process. In order to make the selection of senators postponed, abandoned, abandoned, I think that there are traces of this kind of phenomenon as far as we can observe and follow. The important mission is to make the selection of Senators happen and to be successful and have the results announced as expected by the Election Commission. Set in order to allow the democratic process to move forward. Because if the process of selecting senators cannot take place, it will cause the original set of 250 senators to stay longer,' Mr. Phichai said. Mr. Phichai said that the Election Commission does a very poor job in publicizing people to apply. If the provincial Election Commission were more enthusiastic, Promoting the democratic process requires a wide-ranging campaign for people to apply. The phenomenon of one district and one person may not occur. But this happened because the Election Commission was inactive and ineffective. Any province where something like this happens must be punished. Because they create problems, if they are not punished, they work like this. As for the Senate applicants who appear to have actually been established, such as a group of funders, village health volunteers, and veterans, the public will have to see how they decide. which the establishment process It will be most effective at the district level. It will be more difficult at the provincial and national level and it is seen that at the national level there may be fewer senators from the establishment than expected. Fi nally, citizens and applicants Senators must help drive together to make this selection of senators possible. A We Watch representative said that from collecting information, problems were found in disqualifying applicants. Senator, the first thing is that there are few applicants. Because the age limit is 40 years and over and there is an application fee of 2,500 baht, there are still people who do not vote. and being a member of a political party resulting in loss of rights to apply this time This resulted in only 48,000 applicants. Another problem is the officials' misunderstanding of the documents. This raises the question of whether the Election Commission How do you organize training for officials? It was found that there were problems with the application process and not including the actual election, what problems would there be? If the officials still have various misunderstandings It is a matter that must be emphasized and explained to the people. As for taking care of the rights of the disabled and the elderly who are not conducive and do not receive convenience In going out to exercise your rights It is expected that the actual election will solve this problem. Including no documents being made in Braille or audiobooks for the visually impaired, which the Election Commission should make equal and everyone have easy access to exercising their rights. A representative from ilaw said that there were fewer applicants in this round than expected. The Election Commission estimates that up to half of the Election Commission should review and show responsibility. Including problems in the SW.3 application, specifying occupations that are not covered. and cannot be filled out in accordance with that occupation 'A concern that will arise on the day of selecting Senators is the lack of groups to choose from. Because in that district There is only one applicant. which the person who designed the system I don't understand the issue of few people applying. Therefore a solution was not designed. Therefore causi ng injustice. and want the Election Commission Explain how this will proceed and what steps will be taken to ensure that the applicant's rights remain,' Mr. Yingcheep said. Mr. Yingcheep said that concerns about the establishment of the Senate may or may not be true. For example, dressing the same in the application form for S.W. 3, the easiest thing is that you don't have to choose, that's all. Moreover, looking at groups like this Only 1 person will be selected to enter. Please leave this to those who have not yet applied for this round. can be a detective By going to check each area to see who's who. It is considered to help other candidates with their homework and on the actual election day to help observe. Mr. Parinya also gave an interview. In addition, in the case of news, the names of 149 people came out saying that the Election Commission must answer whether there was a hoax or a lock-up or not. Because it is considered a criminal offense. If you promise to choose The Election Commission must come up with clear measures. The role of the public and the media must be promoted. In checking and observing In order to create transparency and build public confidence. Source: Thai News Agency