2008 Thai Senate election

none Thailand 2006 2014 76 of the 150 seats in the Senate 2 March 2008 yes Independents 91.36 200 76 Senate elections were held in Thailand on 2 March 2008, the first under a new constitution. Voter turnout was 56%.Low turnout in Thai Senate vote BBC News, 3 March 2008 Results were expected on 9 March 2008.Bangkok Post Breaking News 76 candidates were elected, one for each province, while 74 senators will be nominated 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.Thailand's Election Commission to organize senatorial election and selection early 2008 People's Daily 28 December 2007 The Thai Election Commission endorsed the 74 senators selected from the nominations.Thai Election Commission endorses appointed senators People's Daily, 19 February 2008 The senators will serve six-year terms. The nominated senators are considered to be closer to the outgoing military administration,BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Low turnout in Thai Senate vote 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.AFP: Thaksin allies make strong showing in Thai Senate race Results File:Senate of Thailand (2008).svg Independents 21986942 76 Blank votes 2079826 Nominated members 74 y 914479 44911254 Election Commission Aftermath 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.MCOT English News : Prasopsuk elected Speaker of Thai Senate https://web.archive.org/web/20080316134915/http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=3274 2008-03-16 References Category:Elections in Thailand Thailand Senate election Category:Non-partisan elections