2008 Thai Senate election

Senate elections were held in Thailand on 2 March 2008 for the first time under the new constitution. Voter turnout was 56%.[1] Results were expected on 9 March 2008.[2]

2008 Thai Senate election

2 March 2008
All 76 (of the 150) seats to the Senate of Thailand
Majority party Minority party   Party Nonpartisan Appointed Seats won 76 74

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76 candidates were elected, one for each province, while 74 senators will be appointed by a selection panel headed by the Constitution Tribunal's president Virat Limvichai. Nominations for these seats were made by professional groups between 13 January and 18 January 2008, whereafter a panel appointed by the Electoral Commission vetted the nominees' credentials before forwarding the nominations to the selection panel.[3] The Thai Election Commission endorsed the 74 senators selected from the nominations.[4] The senators will serve six-year terms.

The appointed senators are considered to be closer to the outgoing military administration,[5] while among the elected senators a substantial number are closely connected to deposed former PM Thaksin. A prominent critic of Thaksin and anti-corruption activist also appeared to have been elected.[6]

On 13 March 2008, the Senate President was elected. The former Appeals Court president Prasopsuk Boondej, a nominated senator, received 78 votes. Thaweesak Khidbanchong, considered to be close to former minister Newin Chidchob, received 45 votes; General Lertrat Ratanawanit, reportedly closely connected to the defunct coup-making Council for National Security received 15 votes, and Police Lieutenant-General Manoj Kraiwong, who had been criticised for having leaned onto the opposition Democrat Party, received six votes.[7]