The upper house president said this morning that the 30-plus senators who did not attend last week’s session to select the prime minister were being threatened and harassed despite having perfectly good excuses.
Pornpetch Wichitcholchai said in a session this morning that he learned the people had threatened and invaded the family privacy of senators who failed to appear at Thursday’s vote or did not support the winner of May’s election, Move Forward Party’s Pita Limjaroenrat.
Anger was widespread last week after 43 members of the unelected upper house didn’t bother voting, while most of their colleagues voted against or abstained from voting for Pita to become prime minister. Thirty-three were no-shows; another 10 present did not record a vote.
Pita’s bid fell 52 votes short of the majority needed for the top political job. The 199 abstentions counted as votes against him under the Thai parliamentary system. Only 13 senators voted for him.
Pornpetch said people had been seen outside the senator’s residences and businesses, used derogatory language toward their families, and intimidated them to create fear.
Since the vote, calls have gone out to air the senators’ dirty laundry by exposing their extra-marital affairs. In response, a group of senators lawyered up today to file criminal charges against their critics.
Pornpetch said the 33 no-shows had very good explanations for why they couldn’t attend. Two senators were on official duty abroad in Beijing. The six who head the armed services and other security forces, he said, didn’t want to be there and were considered “on duty” as well.
Nine senators were on personal leave due to prior commitments abroad, and 16 were out sick.
Pornpetch said it was his responsibility to protect and ensure the safety of the members and their families’ lives and property. He said that he had asked the police to increase security for the senators.
The senate will reconvene Wednesday for a second round of voting. Pita, 42, has said that he will turn to the coalition partner Pheu Thai Party to form a government if he fails to secure the needed votes again.
Pheu Thai’s candidates include real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter and niece of former prime ministers Thaksin Shinawatra and Yingluck Shinawatra, respectively.
