Election Commission Voids Low Performance Review, Allows Secretary to Serve Full Term
The Election Commission voted to overturn a failing performance review of Secretary Sawang Boonmee by the previous commission, allowing him to complete his five-year term ending March 2570.
On July 17, 2569, the Election Commission announced a 5-2 vote on July 15 to overturn the performance evaluation of Secretary Sawang Boonmee for fiscal year 2568, which had been conducted by the previous commission chaired by Itthiphon Boonprakong. Under the new decision, the current commission will conduct its own assessment, effectively allowing Sawang to remain in his position.
The dispute originated when Itthiphon's commission rated Sawang's performance below the mandatory 60 percent threshold, a score that would have required his dismissal under contract terms. However, the matter was never formally brought to a full commission vote before the previous leadership's term expired. When the new commission took office and the low evaluation became public, questions arose about which commission body held the authority to assess the secretary's work.
The current commission consulted the Office of the Legal Counsel and an advisory panel chaired by former EC president Suphachai Somcharoen. The legal advisors concluded that the sitting commission—as specified in the employment contract—holds evaluation authority, citing precedent that previous secretaries were assessed by the commission in office at the time of review. On July 15, the full commission voted to invalidate the earlier evaluation.
Reports indicate that one commissioner who previously argued the four new members lacked sufficient working history to fairly rate Sawang reversed his position this time. The commission's decision is expected to allow Sawang to complete his five-year term without further obstacles, ending on March 31, 2570.
