Abhisit Questions Election Commission Report on Vote Integrity
Democratic Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva questioned the Election Commission's independence and fairness during a House debate on its performance report, challenging whether the 2567 Senate and 2568 House elections were conducted honestly.
During a House session on September 16 presided over by Second Deputy Speaker Leissakhdi Pathanachaiyagul, the chamber considered the Election Commission's performance report for fiscal years 2567 and 2568. Democratic Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva argued that today's debate frequently referenced elephants to emphasize the importance of not losing sight of the bigger picture while examining details. He noted that the Election Commission, established since 2540 as an independent body, wields legislative power through regulations, executive power in managing elections, and quasi-judicial power in penalizing election law violators.
Abhisit stated that the most critical point is the independence of the institution, without which there can be no guarantee of fairness or protection of democracy. He directly challenged the public, asking whether anyone genuinely believes the 2567 Senate election and 2568 House election were conducted fairly and honestly. He pointed out that many aspiring politicians say they cannot compete because they cannot break the law, and even sitting MPs privately complain that elections have become matters of bidding and illegal competition.
Abhisit emphasized the need to examine whether the Election Commission fully performed its duties during 2567 and 2568 to prevent fraud or favoritism. He referenced the Supreme Court's prior rulings that even vote counting alone can constitute an offense if it contravenes constitutional principles governing Senate elections, which should prioritize qualified candidates' intentions rather than simple vote totals. He questioned why the Commission had not applied these principles consistently in its 2568 proceedings.
