Senators-elect poised to show true colours

Senators-elect poised to show true colours

analysis: Divided Upper House readies for crucial impeachment decision

Pheu Thai and coalition parties can take heart from the fact that 40 candidates aligned with them won seats in Sunday's Senate election — making up the majority of the 77 elected senators in the Upper House.

But they are no doubt still worried about the resilience and unity of the anti-government group of 60 appointed senators, who remain in office.

The Senate screens legislative items, and scrutinises and selects members of independent organisations.

Members of the Upper House are currently occupying centre stage, since they also play a crucial role in impeaching political office holders, possibly including caretaker premier Yingluck Shinawatra, who is facing charges in connection with the rice-pledging scheme.

As the state of politics has become highly polarised, each and every senator's vote is being weighed carefully to judge which side has more support — the government or its opponents.

The newly elected batch of senators will soon show where their allegiances lie.

Former Pheu Thai MP for Ubon Ratchathani Somkid Chueakhong said it was not unusual for elected senators to have alliances with MPs.

He said he has gained some comfort and encouragement from studying the list of candidates who emerged victorious in the Senate poll.

There are at least 40 winners who appear to be aligned with Pheu Thai, Mr Somkid said.

But he noted many candidates with links to the Democrat Party have won seats as well.

The senators-elect are awaiting endorsement from the Election Commission before they can start working.

However, there are still some winners who have not revealed which side they support, Mr Somkid said.

"As I see it, the number of pro- and anti-government senators is more or less equal. Things will be clear when the Senate chooses its speaker,'' he said.

Mr Somkid said Pheu Thai is still not concerned about the possibility of Ms Yingluck being impeached by the Senate, since a vote of at least 90 senators is required for such action.

Appointed senator Kamnoon Sitthisamarn said many of the winning candidates support the government because they rely on the backing of Pheu Thai politicians in the North and the Northeast.

Winning candidates contesting seats in the central provinces also depend on the backing of coalition parties whose strongholds are in the central region, Mr Kamnoon said.

He said winning candidates who oppose the government come from Democrat strongholds, adding that those who support the People's Democratic Reform Committee will number no more than 20.

Former Pheu Thai MP for Nonthaburi Udomdej Rattanasathian said newly elected senators must perform their duties straightforwardly and protect the public interest, no matter which side they support.

Mr Kamnoon said he believed the newly elected senators yet to pledge allegiance to one side or the other will reveal their stance when the Senate meets to choose its speaker and two deputy speakers.

But he argued that appointed senators are not concerned about the selection of the three posts.

A majority vote is required to choose them, he said, adding that those senators with unclear positions could still be swayed.

He argued the new Senate speaker will likely be backed by the appointed senators.

The Senate must meanwhile prepare for its next major undertaking, when it must decide whether to launch impeachment proceedings against Ms Yingluck over allegations of dereliction of duty in the rice-pledging scheme.

It must also consider action against the whole cabinet over the 2-trillion-baht borrowing bill which the charter court ruled as being unconstitutional.

The government is expected to aggressively lobby senators for their support to make it difficult for them to launch impeachment proceedings.

A vote of at least 90 senators is required for impeachment, according to a political source.

The source said the Senate's role as a power balance may not be efficient, since the allegiances of most of the winning candidates are known, adding that there are also signs that the impeachment of holders of political office may not proceed smoothly.

Appointed senator Somchai Sawaengkarn said the voting patterns of appointed senators show that 60 of the 73 appointed senators are in the anti-government camp.

The remaining 13 are believed to be aligned with the government, Mr Somchai said.

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