Bangkok: “Natthaphon” has dispatched a team of lawyers to petition the Election Commission to forward a case to the Constitutional Court for the removal of 138 senators. The senators are accused of acting in favor of, or being under the control of, a political party.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Nattaporn Toprayoon, a former advisor to the Ombudsman, has initiated the legal action, requesting the Election Commission (EC) to assess whether the membership of these senators under Section 82 of the constitution should be terminated. This follows a joint investigation by the Department of Special Investigation and the EC, which uncovered evidence of collusion, involving testimony from various types of witnesses and analysis of transaction data and phone records.

The investigation further revealed that the implicated senators have been acting under the influence of the Bhumjaithai Party. Evidence gathered from witnesses and technological analyses, including AI, confirmed the collusion. The petition details that these senators have consistently favored the Bhumjaithai Party since taking office, undermining their expected neutrality and independence.

The petition cites several instances of biased behavior, including reliance on majority votes within the House to appoint Senate leaders and committee chairpersons. During a series of Senate meetings in November 2024, senators outside the group reportedly lost every vote on numerous issues. Additionally, concerns were raised about their role in approving appointments for independent organizations, further compromising neutrality.

The actions of these senators, as outlined in the petition, contravene constitutional provisions, specifically Section 113, which mandates political neutrality. There is an appeal for the EC to invoke its constitutional authority, under Section 82, to submit the investigation findings to the Constitutional Court for a decision.