Senators Say No Impeachment Petition Seen Against Election Commissioner
Two senators deny seeing any impeachment petition against minority Election Commissioner Sithichoi Inthawiwat, saying the rumors may be intended to pressure him. They call for openness if any signature drive is underway, while one senator investigates the rumor’s source and says he has not seen any related documents.
On October 1, 2069, Senator Tevarit Manichai told reporters that while he had heard rumors that senators were collecting signatures to remove minority Election Commissioner Sithichoi Inthawiwat in the "senators' collusion" case, he had not seen any petition documents. He said if the allegations were true, those responsible should come forward openly rather than spreading rumors aimed at pressuring the commissioner. He emphasized that he and fellow minority senators are not involved in any signature drive.
He added that although anyone has the right to gather signatures, the move raises ethical concerns and could be used to silence dissent, noting that the commissioner’s cautious attitude already makes him a target of pressure from all sides.
Senator Pisitthad Apivathanaphong said he does not know where the rumor originated and is looking into its source. He stated that he has not seen any documents related to the petition and would immediately inform the media if any appeared. When asked whether the petition truly exists, he repeated that he has not seen any paperwork and would announce any filing promptly. He declined to specify under which legal article the signatures would be collected or whether the drive targets only the commissioner or other election commissioners, saying he lacks information without the documents.
