PM, Bhumjaithai Leaders Named in New Senate Poll Probe Petition

Opposition reviewing evidence from iLaw for possible use in parliamentary inquiries The opposition has been urged to investigate nine senior Bhumjaithai Party figures including Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for alleged involvement in manipulating the 2024 Senate election. iLaw, an election-monitoring group, on Tuesday presented new information to opposition chief whip Parit Wacharasindhu, who said the opposition would review the petition and use parliamentary mechanisms to scrutinise the claims. Mr Parit, a People’s Party list MP, also said the opposition would hold another public forum on July 26 featuring new witnesses from several provinces. The latest information from iLaw is based in part on accounts heard at a seminar the opposition held at parliament on July 12. Participants including candidates described in great detail the backroom manoeuvrings and exchanges of money, sometimes in six figures, in exchange for supporting pre-approved lists of Senate candidates. All of this activity, iLaw has alleged, took place with the explicit or implicit approval of the most senior Bhumjaithai Party officials. In addition to the prime minister, other politicians named include Deputy Prime Minister Songsak Thongsri, PM’s Office ministers Paradorn Prissananantakul, Napintorn Srisunpang and Suksomruay Wantaneeyakul, government chief whip Korrawee Prissananantakul and Deputy PM Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. iLaw director Yingcheep Atchanont said witness accounts suggested the politicians may have been involved in activities that undermined the integrity of the Senate election. The petition alleged Mr Anutin discussed the Senate race and assigned aides to coordinate with candidates, while another witness claimed he attended a meeting with newly elected senators after the election to discuss Senate leadership. Mr Anutin on Tuesday dismissed the claims, saying he had nothing to do with the case. When told he was the first person named, he said the information was “not credible”. Mr Parit urged the Election Commission not to limit the case to individual provinces or low-level participants and called for all those allegedly involved to be referred to court if evidence supported the allegations. Reserve senator Akkharawat Phongthanachalitkuun said 12 additional witnesses were expected to provide evidence next week. The 2024 Senate election gave rise to allegations of systemic fraud and vote-buying by at least 120 senators. The vote produced some highly unusual results, notably a preponderance of winners from provinces where the Bhumjaithai Party, which now leads the government, is strong electorally. The Election Commission since March 2025 has been investigating reports of collusion to rig the vote in 2024. It is expected to decide by next month whether to forward cases involving 229 individuals identified by an investigative panel. The Department of Special Investigation, meanwhile, has interviewed hundreds of people about reports of money-laundering related to the election and is now reviewing the findings. In a related development, reserve Mr Akkharawat on Tuesday submitted a petition to Mr Parit, seeking an investigation into the payment of salaries, position allowances and other benefits to Election Commission secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee after the EC reportedly ruled in 2025 that he had failed a performance evaluation. The case sparked controversy following reports questioning whether four former commissioners who took part in the evaluation still had the legal authority to do so after leaving office. The issue was rendered moot earlier this month when the EC board voted 5-2 to nullify the previous performance review. This cleared the way for Mr Sawaeng to remain in his role until his contract expires in 2027. Mr Akkharawat also called for scrutiny of the current EC’s authority to conduct such evaluations and for a review of Mr Sawaeng’s current employment contract.