The first Senate meeting will be held on July 23 to elect the Senate president and vice president.

Parliament, The Secretary-General of the Senate revealed that the first meeting of the Senate will be held on 23 July to elect the President and Vice President of the Senate, while 198 Senators have already reported themselves, expecting to have 200 by the afternoon. Ms. Naphaphon Jaisajja, Secretary-General of the Senate, revealed that 198 senators have reported themselves so far, with another 2 arriving in the afternoon. When all 200 senators have reported themselves, the Secretary-General of the Senate will call the first Senate meeting. Section 15 of the Senate Meeting Regulations 2019 stipulates that a Senate meeting must be called at least 3 days in advance. Therefore, the most appropriate Senate meeting date to call for the first time is Tuesday, July 23, 2024, as that date is the same as the regular Senate meeting, which is Monday or Tuesday of the week, and does not match the House of Representatives meeting, which is Wednesday or Thursday, so that the Parliament Radio and Television Station can br oadcast the Senate meeting live on that day. For the first Senate meeting agenda, there will be the following agenda items: acknowledgement of the Election Commission's announcement regarding the results of the Senate election; acknowledgement of the Election Commission's announcement regarding the results of the Senate election; reserve list senators taking an oath in the meeting before taking office; and the election of the Senate President and Vice President. In the first Senate meeting, the oldest member will be invited to temporarily chair the meeting. The three oldest senators in order are: 1. Pol. Lt. Gen. Yuthana Thaiphakdi, 78 years old; 2. Mr. Lae Dilokwittayarat, 77 years old; and 3. Mr. Boonsong Noisophon, 75 years old. If on that day, Pol. Lt. Gen. Yuthana Thaiphakdi is not present at the Senate meeting, the next oldest senator in order will act as the temporary president of the Senate meeting. The Secretary-General of the Senate said that after the Senate meeting has completed the selection of the Senate President and the Senate Vice President, the Senate Secretariat must confirm the resolution and forward the matter to the Prime Minister to submit to His Majesty for royal approval for appointment. As for the next Senate meeting, it will occur when there is a royal decree appointing the Senate President and Vice President, then the next Senate meeting can be scheduled, which is expected to be the shortest possible time compared to the past period of approximately 7 days. Therefore, the next Senate meeting may be on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, because Monday, July 29, 2024 is a compensatory holiday for the King's Birthday. Source: Thai News Agency