Senate sets up two panels on first day

Senate sets up two panels on first day

The Senate has set up a committee to vet a candidate to fill a seat on the National Anti-corruption Commission (NACC).

New senators take a group photo on their first meeting day on Friday. - CHANAT KATANYU

Supa Piyajitti, a former deputy finance permanent secretary, was earlier nominated NACC commissioner by a screening committee, replacing a retired commissioner.

The screening committee comprises 15 members: presidents of the Supreme Court, Constituional Court and Supreme Administrative Court, as well as rectors of all state univerisites, who elect among themselves to seven, and  representatives of parties with MPs, who vote among themselves to five.   

Ms Supa is well known for her role as the "whistle blower" of the rice-pledging scheme when she chaired a sub-committee to close the scheme's accounts. 

Twenty-four senators were elected for the vetting committee, half of whom were appointed senators.

Surachai Liangboonlertchai, first senate president acting as president, said the deadline for the consideration was May 9.

The upper house also formed another 24-member committee of the same composition to nominate six expert members of the Administrative Court, to be shortlisted to two by the Senate later.

It will also vet the backgrounds of the candidates at the same time, said Mr Surachai. 

The Senate convened on Friday after the Election Commission endorsed all 77 senators from the March 2  election.

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