Bangkok: Reserve Senators have formally petitioned Narong, the newly appointed chairman of the Election Commission (EC), to escalate a case of alleged collusion involving Senators to the Supreme Court. Additionally, they are seeking an evaluation of Saeng Boonmee’s performance as Secretary-General of the Election Commission, with a view to his potential dismissal.

According to Thai News Agency, a group of reserve senators, led by Mr. Akkarawat Pongthanachalitkul, submitted a letter to the new Election Commission. They urged the commission to revisit the actions of the previous EC concerning complaints of collusion in the Senate elections, emphasizing their concerns over the integrity and fairness of the former commission’s conduct. The reserve senators extended their congratulations to the new EC members, expressing confidence that they would serve as a beneficial asset to the nation. They raised questions about the previous EC’s integrity and fairness, highlighting the absence of tangible results or conclusions in the Senate election collusion case, despite it being 1 year and 5 months since its inception. They argued that corruption in Senate elections is a root cause of national unrest, impacting governance and public events. They warned that unresolved cases continue to foster national doubt and suspicion.

“As our group has proven, the 1 year and 5 months since the Senate election took place have not yielded any tangible results or accelerated the process. On the contrary, the previous Election Commission (EC) acted illegally because the 1-year timeframe expired when they announced the certification, and it extended to July 10, 2025, the final day of the 1-year period. They should have disclosed the truth to the public, but until now, with the new EC in place, we are appealing to the new commissioners, especially Mr. Narong Klanwarin, to work honestly and ethically, serving as a reliable resource for the people, befitting the honor and dignity of their position. He has a distinguished record of honesty and integrity, dating back to his time as a Supreme Court judge-a high and respected position in the nation. Thai people are confident that the Senate election fraud case will conclude fairly and justly before the New Year. We hope the EC will expedite the case to the Supreme Court’s Election Division as a New Ye
ar’s gift to the Thai people, as the delay is detrimental,” Mr. Akkarawat stated.

Mr. Akkarawat also highlighted the necessity for Mr. Narong to evaluate Mr. Saeng Boonmee’s performance as the Secretary-General of the Election Commission. He emphasized the need to determine whether Mr. Saeng is still suitable for his role, citing the importance of integrity and honesty in fulfilling national duties. The reserve senators suggested that if the aim is for smooth operations under the new chairman’s leadership, public sentiment generally supports the appointment of a new Secretary-General to uphold the commission’s dignity.

Mr. Akkarawat revealed that he had previously filed a complaint against the Election Commission and Mr. Saeng at the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct. This complaint has now been accepted for consideration by the court. He noted that as of December 23rd, there had been no evidence of honest and straightforward conduct by the EC or Mr. Saeng. He warned that even if they retire or relocate without addressing the Senate election collusion case, they would face judicial proceedings. He concluded that this moment has arrived, as the Criminal Court has accepted the case for review.