Parliament, 'Somchai' proposes the establishment of a special committee to investigate the selection of a new set of senators, insisting that with the honor and dignity of 250 people, they are just doing their duty, denying the delay, emphasizing that the law does not support the approval before the election, and pointing out that the postponement of the reserve list is the power of the Senate President. The Senate meeting today (8 July) Mr. Somchai Saengka, a member of the Senate, proposed a motion to set up a special committee to study and investigate the selection of new senators. Mr. Somchai said that they are currently waiting for the Election Commission (EC) to investigate the selection of senators to ensure fairness and justice. If everything is correct, an announcement will be made to approve the new senators. Therefore, the current senators will continue to perform their duties until the last day. He confirmed with the honor and dignity of the 250 senators, there is no intention to delay their term as has been falsely accused in society. They only have to perform their duties in every section with dignity until they pass the work on to the new senators, except for Section 272. Mr. Somchai said that the proposal to establish such a committee was because in the last senator election, the EC announced the qualifications of candidates in 20 occupational groups, which were expanded and described in a manner that did not match the intention of the constitution and the organic law on the acquisition of senators, which specified the words and other occupations in a similar manner, resulting in applicants applying in occupational groups that were not in line with reality, such as village health volunteers and masseurs, applying in the public health group, security guards at bus drivers, resort cleaners, tourism groups, parade truck drivers, and media groups. These are distorted matters. In addition, it was found that after the announcement of the Royal Gazette on the senator election, the MPs still held a party , with the senator candidates attending the party. One of them had to be the MP's sister-in-law, 2 days before traveling to apply for senator. This is considered a violation of the catering law. In addition, there were people who submitted evidence of receiving money and deleting votes by candidates, some of whom had already filed complaints in various areas. Therefore, when problems are found, a committee should be set up, which will consist of representatives from the Constitution Drafting Committee. Which will consist of Mr. Somkid Lertpaitoon, Mr. Chet Tonawanik, Mr. Kamsan Phokong, and representatives of the Independent Organizations Commission under the Constitution, the Justice Process and Police Laws Commission, the State Administration Commission, and the Human Rights, Liberties, and Consumer Protection Commission to study within the available time frame and will invite relevant persons to provide information to compare with the results of the study of the selection of senators during the transition period that has already been studied in order to summarize and forward to the Independent Organizations Commission, including the new senators, which will be very useful. Mr. Somchai emphasized that the current senators have returned all the keys, but they must continue to perform their duties as emergency doctors. As long as there are no new doctors, they must continue to treat patients. Mr. Somchai also gave legal opinions as a former secretary in the drafting of both constitutions and a part in the consideration of the organic law. He believes that certifying the results of the senator election first and then electing them later is not possible because Section 42 of the Organic Act on the Origin of Senators states that when the committee receives the report on the final senator election at the national level, it must wait 5 days. When the deadline has passed, the EC committee will see that the election was conducted honestly and properly and will announce the results in the Government Gazette according to section 10 and notify the Secretary-General of the Senate. Therefore, if the EC sees that there is dishonesty or doubt, it can use its power under Section 59 to open the ballot boxes and recount the votes. However, if it sees that it is honest and fair, it can announce the results, but it cannot move the reserve list to replace it because it is not the EC's power. It is the power of the Senate President in the case that a member dies, resigns, is indicted, or commits an offense under the constitution. Source: Thai News Agency