Fresh Take: New Faces for Thailand's Constitutional Court
Two candidates selected for the position in the Constitutional Court
It’s about time for some fresh minds on the Constitutional Court in Thailand! The committee has selected two new nominees: strong contenders Pol Capt Sutham Cheurprakobkit and Sarawut Songsivilai. These two are stepping up to fill the shoes of court president Nakharin Mektrairat and judge Punya Udchachon who have completed their terms.
The committee, headed by the Supreme Court president Chanakarn Theeravechpolkul, put these applicants forward in a Thursday announcement. They outshone seven other candidates vying for the seats. Among the crowd was the intriguing figure of Chaiyan Chaiyaporn, a Chulalongkorn University political science professor, who made headlines for tearing up his ballot during the 2006 election protesting against an unjust parliamentary dissolution.
Despite a controversial past, including a suspended jail sentence and a five-year ban from political activity, Prof. Chaiyan still thought he was a prime fit. He cited the restoration of his political rights in 2019 as evidence of his eligibility. He focused on his expertise in political science and public administration, and his solid, unbiased track record in teaching and researching constitutional monarchies.
Now comes the vetting process. The two successful nominees will go through extensive background and ethical checks via a Senate committee. If they pass muster, their names will be passed along to the Senate for final approval.
Unfortunately, two earlier candidates didn’t make the cut. They faced rejection during a closed-door Senate meeting in March, but no reasons were given for their failure to win support.
Insights:
- New Faces on the Bench: Pol Capt Sutham Cheurprakobkit and Sarawut Songsivilai, the new nominees, bring a fresh perspective to the Constitutional Court. [Source 1, 2]
- Failed Candidates: The most recent selection of nominees didn’t succeed in gaining a majority of votes during a Senate meeting. Despite this, no reasons were given for their rejection. [Source 1]
- Notable Applicant: Chaiyan Chaiyaporn, despite a history of a suspended jail sentence and a five-year ban from political activity, applied as a political science and public administration expert who took a non-partisan stance and had extensive background working with constitutional monarchies. [Source 1]
- Following their completed terms, Pol Capt Sutham Cheurprakobkit and Sarawut Songsivilai, the new Constitutional Court nominees, aim to bring a fresh perspective to the court.
- Despite a history of a suspended jail sentence and a five-year ban from political activity, Chaiyan Chaiyaporn, a political science professor, applied for the Constitutional Court position, focusing on his expertise in political science and public administration.
- The Senate committee will subject the new nominees, Pol Capt Sutham Cheurprakorn and Sarawut Songsivilai, to extensive background and ethical checks during the vetting process.
- In a previous selection, an undemocratic policy-and-legislation decision led to the rejection of two candidates during a closed-door Senate meeting in March, with no reasons given for their failure to win support.
