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The Senate on Monday debated a report proposing changes to election laws and the constitution, including reforms to the Election Commission (EC).

The report, prepared by the Senate committee on political development, public participation, human rights, freedoms and consumer protection, proposes amendments to the constitution, the organic law on the EC and the organic law on the election of MPs.

Among the proposals are using the same party number for constituency and party-list candidates, setting a minimum threshold for party-list votes, allowing citizens to vote in their place of residence without changing their household registration, and giving parliament a role in selecting EC members.

The report also proposes allowing 50,000 citizens to petition parliament to remove EC members.

Other proposed changes include lowering the minimum age for EC candidates to 35 and requiring the EC to publish summaries of its rulings within seven days. The proposals would also require the EC to complete checks on candidates’ qualifications within three days.

Most senators who spoke supported the report and called for structural changes to strengthen the EC’s independence and protect it from political influence.

Senator Nantana Nantawaropas backed separating the EC’s election administration and investigative powers, arguing that the EC should focus on organising elections while investigations should be handled by the courts.

She also supported allowing citizens to initiate the removal of EC members and parliament to vote on their removal.

Senator Pornchai Witthayalerphan said the EC currently acts as election organiser, investigator, adjudicator and authority to order recounts or new elections, creating potential conflicts of roles.

He cited the EC’s investigation into alleged collusion in the Senate election, which resulted in 77 cases being referred to court, as a reason to reconsider the EC’s structure.

However, some senators from the majority “blue group” opposed transferring the EC’s investigative powers.

Senator Phisit Apiwatthanaphong said agencies such as the Department of Special Investigation, which operates under a minister, should not be allowed to intervene in EC investigations, arguing this could undermine fairness.

Senator Kob Atchanakitti questioned the proposal to give citizens the power to remove EC members, warning that it could deepen divisions.

He defended the existing constitutional framework and said any amendments to the EC and election laws should begin in the House of Representatives.

The condominium market in Chon Buri recovered in the second quarter of 2026, supported by student-related purchases, before demand shifted towards industrial workers in the third quarter, according to SET-listed Origin Property.

Apisit Soonthronchukiat, chief marketing and sales officer, said demand in Chon Buri remained resilient, with foreign buyers, students and industrial workers driving condominium sales in Pattaya, Bang Saen and Si Racha, respectively.

“Student demand typically peaks when universities reopen, as parents buy condos for their children, while investors seek units to tap the student rental market,” he said.

According to the Real Estate Information Center, condominium sales in Chon Buri jumped 74.5% year-on-year in the second quarter, helping to drive a 39% increase in the province’s residential sales.

The best-performing areas were Pattaya-Na Jomtien, where sales increased by 21% on foreign demand, and Bang Saen-Nong Mon-Bang Phra, which grew by 9% on purchases linked to student demand.

However, student-related purchases dropped after universities had been open for a while in the third quarter, while demand from workers employed at industrial estates increased to fill the gap, Mr Apisit said.

“Rental demand in the Eastern Economic Corridor provinces is very strong, with some companies seeking 30-40 new condo units for employees,” he said. “We rent them to companies before selling the units with tenants to investors.”

Origin targets this corporate rental demand with ready-to-move-in projects that have fewer than 100 remaining units, creating an opportunity to sell units to investors with secured rental contracts.

Mr Apisit said the shift towards renting is also spreading among younger workers, who value greater flexibility and face tighter mortgage conditions amid economic and global uncertainties.

The trend is also visible in Greater Bangkok, where condo demand remains but mortgage qualification has become a major obstacle, particularly for buyers seeking units priced below 3 million baht.

Origin’s average mortgage rejection rate stood at 40% in the first eight months of the year, with the highest rate recorded among buyers of units priced between 1.5-3 million baht, many of whom were first-jobbers with limited credit histories.

“Consumer instalment obligations, whether through financial institutions or retailers, are included in lenders’ assessments of borrowers’ repayment capacity when they apply for home loans,” said Mr Apisit.

He added that the fourth quarter would provide an opportunity for developers to accelerate condominium sales through events and campaigns, but developers must work harder across online, offline and agent channels to meet targets.

“Even if the transfer target is 100%, developers have to sell 150% to achieve it, whether through online and offline marketing or sales through agents,” he said.

Thailand’s rising badminton star Pitchamon Opatniputh has moved swiftly to challenge her positive drug test, requesting an analysis of her B sample after becoming the first confirmed doping case of the Asian Games in Japan.

The world No.18 returned a positive test for furosemide, a diuretic used for rapid weight loss. The sample was collected during out-of-competition testing by the International Testing Agency (ITA) on Sept 17 – a day after she arrived in Nagoya.

Pitchamon has been provisionally banned from competing, training, coaching or participating in any activity during the tournament. She can challenge her suspension at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the case is currently in the appeal process, specifically regarding the testing of the B sample. Results are expected soon following the initial detection of the banned substance.

He said it was suspected that the incident arose from a lack of awareness after Pitchamon informed the Badminton Association of Thailand that the substance may be related to an anti-inflammatory ointment.

Mr Surasak added that both the athlete and the association are well aware of the need for caution regarding the use of any type of medication.

Given that the detection of a prohibited substance would impact competition, he emphasised that the association and the national team staff remain vigilant and prioritise this issue.

‘In Pitchamon’s case, the incident may have stemmed from a lack of awareness, even though she has regularly competed at the international level where random testing is a standard procedure,’ he said.

He insisted that the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and the BAT have consistently provided education regarding all types of drugs and prohibited substances, while maintaining full cooperation with the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).

Thai Olympic Association chief Pimol Srivikorn has also urged athletes in the competition to exercise caution before using any medication.

‘A follow-up test will be conducted to confirm the results regarding what happened with Pitchamon,’ he said.

‘Personally, I believe that all athletes and associations are aware of this issue and are already vigilant.

‘I am convinced that no one intends to dope, and certainly, no one wants an incident like this to happen. Nevertheless, everyone must be even more careful moving forward regarding the use of any medication – whether taken orally or applied topically.’

Triple world junior champion Pitchamon is a rising star in Thai badminton. The 19-year-old has had a breakthrough season, where she reached a Super 500 final for the first time in her career at the Indonesia Masters.

She was also a finalist at the Super 300 Orleans Masters. She has two titles on the BWF World Tour – both Super 100 events.

Thailand is seeking to conclude trade negotiations with the United States before Washington announces the results of investigations into Thai trade practices that could lead to additional tariffs, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun said.

Thailand wants to keep the tariff rate on its exports to the US within the previously agreed 19% framework, with the two sides having settled the main principles of the negotiations and only a few technical details remaining, she said.

Ms Suphajee said she reached agreement on the main principles with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during a recent visit to Washington and would meet him and his deputy, Rick Switzer, again during Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s visit to the US.

The US is preparing to announce the results of investigations into issues including forced labour and production overcapacity under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974, which allows Washington to take action against foreign trade practices it considers unfair or harmful to US commerce.

The US initially announced a 36% tariff on Thai goods last year, citing its trade deficit with Thailand, before reducing it to 19% following negotiations under the previous government. Some non-tariff issues remained unresolved, however, requiring further talks by the current government.

Thailand also faces a 12.5% tariff related to forced-labour considerations, compared with 10% for neighbouring countries that reached agreements with Washington last year. Ms Suphajee said Thailand needed comparable terms to prevent a higher tariff burden from undermining the competitiveness of Thai exporters.

She said the government was also monitoring possible wider effects if the US imposes additional tariffs on Russia and countries buying Russian oil and energy, although Thailand may not be directly affected.

Ms Suphajee said she might ask Mr Anutin to raise the remaining issues directly with US President Donald Trump, as some matters required discussion at the leaders’ level.