People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut has warned that alleged irregularities in the 2024 Senate election were the starting point of an attempt to gain control of the country.
Mr Natthaphong, the leader of the opposition in the House, made the remarks on Saturday while opening an opposition leaders’ forum at Parliament.
The forum was held after the Election Commission (EC) announced it would vote on the Senate election-rigging case on Sept 14.
Three former opposition leaders – Chaithawat Tulathon, Abhisit Vejjajiva and Cholnan Srikaew – also joined the forum, held under the theme ‘Thai Politics in a Crisis of Confidence: The Truth Society Demands Answers’.
Participants discussed scrutiny of the Senate selection process and the performance of independent organisations, for which senators play a major role in choosing members.
Mr Natthaphong said the forum was being held about 100 days after he first raised concerns about what he called the ‘blue regime’ – blue being the colour of the coalition-leading Bhumjaithai Party.
He said he agreed with the description of the regime as having authoritarian characteristics, which contrasted with a democratic system that should have checks and balances and be accountable to the people.
‘What we are seeing today is that independent organisations originate from senators who may have been organised or brought in through vote-rigging, and who have links to the political party currently leading the government,’ he said. ‘That was why I pointed out at the time that the blue regime was taking over the country.’
He said Saturday’s forum was intended as a platform for former opposition leaders from different eras to voice their shared vision of a democratic political system, rather than an authoritarian system in which a particular group seeks to take control of the country.
According to Mr Natthaphong, discussions at previous opposition forums had led many participants to a common conclusion that manipulation of the Senate election process represented the starting point of broader efforts to consolidate power.
He said the forum provided a platform for former opposition leaders from different eras to voice their shared vision of a democratic political system, rather than an authoritarian system in which a particular group seeks to take control of the country.
Addressing the ongoing investigation into the Senate selection process, the People’s Party leader acknowledged that many people viewed efforts to hold accountable those deemed involved as difficult, if not impossible.
Legal experts have said that a lot of the evidence provided to the Election Commission appeared circumstantial, and EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee recently outlined three legal conditions that must be met for the body to send the case to court.
Mr Natthaphong said four of the EC’s seven members were selected by the current Senate, many of whose members are named in the investigation files. Questions have arisen regarding potential conflicts of interest, he said.
He said many people entered politics with idealistic ambitions to turn what appeared impossible into something that could no longer be denied.
‘By holding forums like this every day and on every occasion, we are making what seems impossible increasingly difficult for them to deny,’ he said of the government and its allies.
The opposition leader said the evidence that needed to be made undeniable included witnesses willing to provide information about the Senate election-rigging process, documentary evidence such as reservation slips, as well as video and other evidence showing that the locations and events in question actually existed.
He said the EC’s current role was not to determine guilt or innocence. Under the law, if there are sufficient grounds to believe that Senate election-rigging occurred, the EC’s duty is to forward the case file to the court.
‘At least it is a good opportunity that the EC has postponed its decision until Sept 14. We can use this forum to make what seems impossible increasingly difficult for them to deny,’ he said.
Saturday’s forum was moved to the Parliament complex after the Pullman Hotel cancelled a booking made by organisers, citing security concerns. The King Power-owned hotel is a popular meeting spot for Bhumjaithai Party politicians.