Bangkok: Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, has dismissed allegations of Bhumjaithai Party’s involvement in the selection of senators, asserting that no senators are affiliated with the party. He responded to criticisms by stating that individuals who lost in elections are free to make any claims they wish, emphasizing that the selection process was conducted in accordance with established procedures.

According to Thai News Agency, Anutin addressed questions from students participating in the Security Management for Senior Executives course about alleged collusion in the senator selection process. He explained that the process involved elections starting at the district level, where candidates campaigned and sometimes asked others to step aside in order to gain support. Anutin argued that this was not collusion, but rather a reflection of the existing rules and process. He highlighted that from the district to the national level, discussions took place about the qualifications needed for senators, resulting in a final selection of 200 individuals.

Anutin further clarified that the system is designed to be process-driven, which might give the impression of candidates being part of a single group. He pointed out that there are no senators from Buriram Province linked to Bhumjaithai. While acknowledging that many candidates sought his advice before applying for Senate positions, Anutin denied any directive influence over the voting process. He questioned why, if he had the power to direct votes, he would not simply secure a majority for the Bhumjaithai Party and aim for the Prime Minister position, rather than focusing on the Senate.