Suksornruay Hits Back at Opposition Over Senate Rigging Allegations
Cabinet minister Suksornruay Wantanayakul dismisses the opposition's reliance on a two-year-old video clip, arguing that her relatives failed the Senate election rounds.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Suksornruay refutes opposition claims regarding Senate election rigging allegations.
- She stresses that the Election Commission already resolved the matter two years ago.
- Points out that her sister-in-law and husband failed to advance, proving no rigging occurred.
On July 27, 2026, at 10:00 AM, Suksornruay Wantanayakul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and MP for Amnat Charoen from the Bhumjaithai Party, responded to Parit Wacharasindhu, list MP for the People's Party, who had urged nine Bhumjaithai politicians to clarify allegations regarding Senate election manipulation.
The controversy stems from an opposition seminar held on July 26 at Parliament, titled Phase 2 of Senate Fraud Evidence, where a video clip was presented. Suksornruay clarified that the footage in question was recorded two years ago during a promotional event for Pha Khao Ma (traditional Thai loincloth) in Amnat Charoen, a province well-known for the textile. She noted that the event was live-streamed in its entirety and contained no discussions about the Senate. Although political rivals previously filed complaints with the Election Commission and parliamentary ethics committees, the EC never summoned her for questioning. Furthermore, she filed defamation charges against the original accuser, who subsequently confessed and received a suspended prison sentence from the court.
"I would like to tell the opposition that before releasing any information to the media, you should thoroughly verify the facts instead of using old information to damage others."
Suksornruay Wantanayakul
Suksornruay further addressed family involvement, stating that Supansa Wantanayakul, her sister-in-law, and Pol. Col. Chatchanan Phonbut, her husband, were well known across Amnat Charoen province for running as Senate candidates in the women's group, only to be eliminated at the provincial level without reaching the national round. She emphasized that if she truly possessed the capability to rig elections, her relatives would have easily secured positions.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The political clash between the ruling coalition members and the opposition over the current Senate selection process highlights ongoing scrutiny from political parties and civic groups like iLaw. While critics demand absolute transparency through revived investigations, targeted politicians rely on prior legal clearances and institutional rulings to defend their stance. This ongoing tension illustrates the broader struggle over accountability and institutional trust in Thailand's political landscape.
When asked if she had ever been summoned to clarify the matter, Suksornruay stated that she received a notification document as an accused person from the 26th sub-committee containing a list of over 100 names without specific violation details, to which she formally responded denying any wrongdoing. She added that banquet allegations had already been investigated and concluded by the provincial Election Commission two years prior. She also criticized Parit for bringing up settled facts after a two-year delay.
Regarding whether the Senate rigging controversy would impact the stability of the Bhumjaithai Party, Suksornruay asserted that it would not, stating that the party is accustomed to facing numerous political attacks. She confirmed that legal teams are currently transcribing the broadcast in question, as her camp holds court judgments and EC conclusions from two years ago to counter any attempts to incite public hostility.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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