Somchai Questions EC Over Nattawut Appointment Controversy
Former Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakarn posted on August 24, 2026, demanding answers regarding the appointment of Nattawut Wongniem to a sub-committee and citing judicial ethics.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Somchai Srisutthiyakarn posted on Aug 24, 2026, questioning Nattawut Wongniem's appointment.
- Demanded to know which Election Commissioner nominated him and called for public evidence.
- Stressed that the core issue is the abuse of status, not the duration in office.
- Invoked Chapter 2, Section 19 of ethical standards to scrutinize close associations.
Political tensions flared up again on August 24, 2026, when former Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakarn took to social media to question the background behind appointing controversial figures to key positions within independent state agencies, aiming to bring transparency to the nomination process.
Somchai stated that the critical issue is not how many days the individual serves in the position, but rather which member of the Election Commission actually proposed Mr. Nattawut Wongniem to serve on the 12th Appeal and Petition Sub-committee. He further challenged the authorities to present concrete evidence to the public.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Scrutinizing appointments within independent bodies is vital for maintaining good governance and public trust. Sub-committees handling political petitions hold significant filtering power, and involving individuals with questionable backgrounds can severely undermine public faith in the electoral justice system.
The former commissioner added that allowing individuals with troubled pasts to hold sub-committee titles creates loopholes for them to falsely claim close ties with powerful figures, thereby projecting undue influence. He also raised questions regarding unresolved eligibility issues concerning member of parliament candidacies for 2023 and 2026.
“Not associating with litigants, lawbreakers, influential figures, or those whose conduct is detrimental to public trust and confidence in the performance of duties.”
Somchai Srisutthiyakarn citing ethical standards
Finally, Somchai published a post citing Chapter 2, Section 19 of the Ethical Standards for Constitutional Court Judges and Independent Organ Officials, questioning the relationship between EC member Thitihet Nuchanart and Mr. Nattawut Wongniem—a former prosecutor previously dismissed for acting as a middleman in an EC bribery case back in 2018—while demanding a public explanation regarding his role as a close associate during official duties.
Source: Matichon Politics
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