Bangkok: "Chaithawat" has put forward a proposal to abolish the Senate, arguing that it is a lingering legacy of the 1947 coup, established to exert control over elected representatives. He has also challenged the Election Commission to file charges against all 229 senators for collusion, emphasizing that the focus should not solely be on minor offenders.
According to Thai News Agency, Chaiyathawat Tulathan addressed the Opposition Leaders' meeting, questioning the necessity of the Senate if a new constitution is passed. He highlighted that the Senate's purpose has historically been to control the elected House of Representatives, stemming from its creation following the 1947 coup that nullified the constitution. Tulathan's remarks challenge the longstanding belief in the Senate's indispensability in Thailand's parliamentary system.
Mr. Chaithawat also questioned the Election Commission's (EC) rationale for prosecuting individuals who leaked investigation documents. He argued that those disclosures were driven by a loss of confidence in the EC. Chaithawat urged the EC to consider charges against all 229 senators by September 14th, emphasizing the need for thorough fact-finding. He noted that Mr. Abhisit has pointed to substantial evidence held by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) that the EC has not incorporated into their investigation. Chaithawat called on the EC to review this evidence within 14 days, citing additional financial aid connections that could clarify the decision-making process.
He expressed concerns that the Election Commission might only target minor figures for prosecution, speculating that if only a few individuals, such as 30, were charged based on the case file, they might face imprisonment more swiftly.
Additionally, Mr. Chaithawat referenced a document from Special Cases Division 1, dated January 16, 2026, addressed to the DSI. This document revealed that the DSI had submitted a case file regarding the Senators to the prosecutor, which only included charges against 8 individuals-2 current Senators and 6 others allegedly involved in the conspiracy. The prosecutor returned the file to the DSI, arguing that it was unreasonable to charge only 8 people for what was described as a large-scale operation.