EC Secretary-General Sawaeng addresses Senate election issues
EC Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee clarifies Senate election controversies at Parliament, stating candidates sharing rides and hotels is legal.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The Election Commission insists it is not ignoring Senate election issues and has secured all documents.
- Sharing rides and staying at the same hotel is legal after candidate introduction rules were revoked.
- MP Korrawee questions leaked documents and criticizes administrative negligence.
- Parit questions the B2 hotel clip, while the EC confirms new evidence outside files can be investigated.
On September 16, 2026, at 4:55 PM at the Thai Parliament, Mr. Sawaeng Boonmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission (EC), addressed concerns regarding anti-corruption measures in the Senate election, affirming that the agency has not ignored the issues and has retained all relevant documents.
Sawaeng explained that the EC previously recognized how large groups gathering with the intent of securing Senate seats could exceed the framework intended by the law. Consequently, the agency issued candidate introduction regulations limiting evaluations strictly to the 'Sor Vor 3' profile documents, prohibiting direct vote canvassing and banning cheat sheets inside voting areas.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
However, the EC Secretary-General noted that these introduction regulations were ultimately revoked because appealing them would have further delayed the election timeline. Consequently, candidates within the same professional groups gained the freedom to travel in the same vehicles and stay at the same hotels lawfully, as the restriction regulations were no longer in effect.
The controversy surrounding Senate election rules highlights the legal complexities of Thailand's indirect selection system among professional groups. The fine line between legitimate networking and organized bloc voting has made enforcement challenging, requiring investigators to rely on specific factual evidence rather than general behavioral restrictions once certain rules are lifted.
During the parliamentary session, MP Korrawee pressed officials regarding leaked documents and criticized the apparent carelessness in handling the procedures. Meanwhile, MP Parit followed up with inquiries concerning a video clip from the B2 hotel.
In response to the hotel clip inquiry, the EC clarified that if new information or evidence emerges that was not previously part of the official record, the commission has the authority to initiate an additional investigation.
Source: Khaosod Politics
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