The Senate began an extraordinary session on Friday with all 77 elected senators, representing all provinces, attending their first meeting.
All senators pose for a group picture on Friday before the opening of the extraordinary session. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
The present meeting will end on May 10. The selection of the new speaker and deputies is high on the agenda.
Acting Speaker Surachai Liangboonlertchai is a strong candidate for the speaker's seat, with support from the Group of 40 senators who are critics to the caretaker government and the Pheu Thai Party.
Mr Surachai admitted his chances remained uncertain as many senators remained undecided on the issue. He stressed the need to quickly decide on a permanent speaker selected from all 150 members, including appointed senators, of the upper house.
Other possible candidates are Pol Gen Jongrak Juthanond, the former deputy police chief believed to have close ties with Pheu Thai, former auditor general Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka, and veteran Suphan Buri politician Jongchain Thiengtham.
Khunying Jaruvan is is also backed by senators seen as rivals to the government and Pheu Thai.
The Senate has been without a speaker since the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) recommended the impeachment of Nikhom Wairatpanich. He was forced to stand aside pending a decision by the Senate on whether to impeach him for abuse of authority.
The nine-day meeting is expected to endorse a new NACC member, former deputy finance permanent secretary Supa Piyajitti, and new specialist members of the Administrative Court Commission.