Election Commission Must Filter Out Corrupt Officials, Sutin Warns

At 12:50 p.m. on September 16, 2025, during a House of Representatives session chaired by Mallika Chirapanthavanich, first deputy speaker, the chamber received performance reports from the Election Commission for fiscal years 2567 and 2568. Sutin Klangswang, a Pheu Thai party list MP, stated that the Election Commission is a critically important organization for the nation and affirmed that it remains necessary to work alongside Thai people. He noted that the commission's duties directly affect every Thai life and the country, and he wants the Election Commission to remain in the nation with dignity and public acceptance. However, he expressed concern and worry about the current situation and how society will move forward.

Sutin said the Election Commission's mission is to ensure clean elections and bring good people into government. However, he questioned whether the commission has fulfilled this mission to date, stressing that the nation's survival depends on good people governing. The first filter to separate good from bad candidates is the election process itself. If good candidates pass through the sieve and bad ones are caught, the sieve has served its purpose and has value for the country. The body managing this sieve is the Election Commission. If the sieve is broken or twisted, society will point fingers at the commission for allowing unsuitable people to enter government.

Sutin further noted that elections hold great value for the country as the first stage in selecting people to enter the political system, and this responsibility must be taken seriously. Allowing bad people to slip through would be a sin against the nation and a failure of the Election Commission. Elections are a tool and a solution to the nation's problems when conflicts arise in society. Therefore, the Election Commission must understand that elections are sometimes a way out of problems. Conversely, if elections are mismanaged, instead of being a solution, they could create new problems.

"I am not at ease about how the recent Senate selection process was conducted. If I hear about it today, I am also uneasy about whether it will be a way to solve and quell the nation's problems or if it will create another crisis. I pray that a crisis does not occur. However, regarding the decision made on September 14, we must accept the fact that there were two different viewpoints, both in favor and against. Today, there should be time and opportunity to find a way to prevent conflicts, and other people cannot find a way out. But the Election Commission is the first checkpoint, and the courts may be the next," Sutin said.

Sutin also noted that in finding solutions to problems, one must guard against what could become a demon—external power interfering with the Election Commission's work. Whether such interference exists or not, he does not know, but the public's concern should be taken into consideration. The greatest benefactors of the Election Commission are those who provide its funding—the state budget financed by public taxes. The people are therefore the true owners of this money.

Therefore, the people are the greatest benefactors, not any particular group that might try to sway or manipulate the commission. Sutin acknowledged that he is not a monk or priest, but he recognizes that the people are his greatest benefactors because his salary comes from them. The same applies to the Election Commission. If demons do come, the benefactors it must repay are the owners of that great sum of money. If the commission keeps this in mind, its mission will run smoothly and the organization will serve society well and keep the nation stable.

"The Election Commission's duty is elections. The benefit of elections is to select good people from bad and bring them into the system."