Election Commission Expected To Certify All New Members Of Revamped Senate

Source reports doing the rounds in local media (such as Thai Enquirer and Khaosod) outlets suggest that the Election Commission (EC) could endorse all 200 senator-elects after its meeting today. This would come alongside the official announcement of the results of the recent election.

• The rules governing the functioning of the upper house, including the system for electing its members, were revamped ahead of the recent polls amid the expiry of transitional arrangements introduced on the back of the 2014 military coup.
• Under the new rules, the Senate's size has been reduced to 200 members, while its powers have been reviewed. Crucially, from now on the Senate will not play any role in the election of the Prime Minister.
• The senators are appointed for five-year terms in an election dubbed "one of the most complicated in the world" from a pool of independent candidates. The system is ostensibly intended to produce a technocratic chamber.
• A scrutiny of victorious candidates by local analysts and reporters points to the expected dominance of conservatives, with factions associated with the ruling Pheu Thai Party (PTP) and main opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) securing smaller representations than initially expected. This may have implications for domestic politics, due to the Senate's role in passing legislation and official appointments.
• The Bangkok Post reported that the "blue faction" associated with the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) is set to dominate the upper house, holding around 60% of the seats, while the "orange faction" with links to the Move Forward Party (MFP) may end up with less than 30 seats. Candidates believed to be sympathetic to PM Srettha's Pheu Thai Party (PTP), representing the "red faction," will occupy less than 20 seats.