Senate approves new appointee for top legal position
In the heart of Thailand's political landscape, investigations into allegations of vote-rigging during the June 2024 Senate elections continue to unfold. The Election Commission (EC) and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) are jointly probing systemic fraud and vote-buying allegations involving over 100 senators, with a particular focus on the "blue bloc" senators linked to the Bhumjaithai Party.
The EC has announced plans to charge several senators with vote-fixing-related charges, following recommendations from an investigative panel that implicated 229 suspects, including Bhumjaithai Party executives, in widespread vote-rigging. The impact of these investigations reaches beyond the Senate, implicating reserve senators, MPs, senior political figures, and party leaders.
Senior figures from the Bhumjaithai Party have been summoned for questioning due to evidence of close coordination between party operatives and Senate candidates. The findings could lead to the suspension of several senators or even the dissolution of political parties found complicit. Revocation of political rights and criminal charges are possible penalties for those found guilty.
These ongoing investigations have raised concerns about the legitimacy of key appointments in the Senate. Senator Nantana Nantavaropas has voiced her opposition to proceeding with appointments while many senators face questions about their eligibility. This has created uncertainty and tension within the political landscape, affecting the endorsement of new officials, such as the attorney-general.
Amidst this political turmoil, Ittiporn Kaewthip was endorsed as Thailand's 20th attorney-general by the Senate. Ittiporn, who began his career as an assistant public prosecutor in 1987, has held senior positions within the public prosecution service and previously undertook the highest-ranking prosecutorial roles in several provinces. He also chaired a working group responsible for drafting guidelines for the enforcement of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, commonly referred to as the lese-majeste law.
Ittiporn received 172 votes during the Senate's closed-door meeting, with 14 senators abstaining and one opting not to participate in the vote. The Public Prosecutors Commission unanimously approved Ittiporn's nomination on May 7, and he is set to officially assume office on October 1. Ittiporn holds a bachelor's degree in law from Thammasat University and earned a master's degree in law from Chulalongkorn University.
The controversy surrounding Ittiporn's appointment persists, with Senator Nantana Nantavaropas expressing her opposition to the endorsement, stating that key appointments should not be made while dozens of senators are facing questions about their eligibility. This has added an additional layer of complexity to the ongoing investigations and the future of Thailand's political landscape.
Policy-and-legislation and politics play major roles in the ongoing investigations and future of Thailand's political landscape. The controversial appointment of Ittiporn Kaewthip as Thailand's 20th attorney-general, amidst allegations of vote-rigging and questions about senators' eligibility, has sparked debates and concerns about policy-and-legislation and the overall politics in the country. General-news outlets continue to closely monitor this political turmoil, as its impact reaches beyond the Senate, affecting key appointments and the endorsement of new officials.
