Reserve Senators Urge EC to Review Vote-Buying Case Referral
Reserve senators have formally petitioned the Election Commission to reverse its 5-2 decision to refer the Senate vote-buying case to the Constitutional Court, alleging the move is a delaying tactic to protect 78 suspects. Led by Senator Akarawut Phongthanachalitkul, the group argues the EC is attempting to strip the Supreme Court's Election Division of its authority to adjudicate the two-year-old corruption case. Akarawut accused the EC of partisan bias and demanded immediate referral of the case files to the Supreme Court.
Reserve senators stormed the Election Commission (EC) to submit a request reviewing the 5-2 decision to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court, fearing it creates a loophole to whitewash the Senate vote-buying case. The issue has dragged on for two years without progress, allegedly to buy time.
On November 3, 2026, at the EC office, a group of reserve senators led by Akarawut Phongthanachalitkul submitted a letter demanding the EC review and revoke the 5-2 majority decision that intends to send the issue to the Constitutional Court for a ruling on the authority to consider qualifications and selection of senators.
Akarawut stated that the corruption and vote-buying case in the 2024 Senate election has dragged on for over two years, yet the EC's work remains unclear. Recently, the EC attempted to pull the case by claiming its authority to certify senatorial candidates at district, provincial, and central levels has ended, and prepared to ask the Constitutional Court to rule that the Supreme Court's Election Division has no authority to accept the petition.
"This behavior is delaying tactics and attempts to use the Constitutional Court to strip the Supreme Court's authority to whitewash their allies, mimicking past asset concealment cases under Section 62. When the EC has reasonable grounds to believe wrongdoing occurred, it must refer the case to the Supreme Court's Election Division for adjudication, which is the pillar the public respects and trusts."
Akarawut added that this Senate vote-buying operation was organized with both a war room and call center. Many candidates did not sign their own Senator Form 3 or did not know who certified their knowledge and expertise. He questioned whether the EC is working for the people or for someone else, since both this EC and the Constitutional Court originated from the same Senate.
"The khaki uniform is an honorable civil servant's attire worn to serve the people. But if the EC still behaves with partisan bias, whitewashing cheaters, ignoring the people, I suggest they get new uniforms — put on shorts instead, complete with batons. I urge the EC to immediately forward the case files of the 78 suspects to the Supreme Court for consideration according to legal procedures."
