Senate collusion case casts shadow over charter court judge selection

The Senate voted on two Constitutional Court judge nominations today, endorsing one and rejecting the other, amidst a heated debate over whether to delay the vote.

The controversy stems from the fact that two-thirds of senators are accused of involvement in the senatorial election collusion case.

During the debate, the Senate vice president had to cut the microphone of a senator who called for the session to be postponed.

The Senate met today to confirm three nominees for independent constitutional bodies, two for the Constitutional Court and one for the Election Commission (EC).

The Senate rejected the nomination of Sutham Cheurprakobkit, a former Mahidol University lecturer, with 118 votes against, 39 in favour, 30 abstentions and 2 not voting.

It approved the nomination of Sarawut Songsivilai, former Highways Department director general, as a Constitutional Court judge, with 143 votes in favour, 17 against, 27 abstentions and 2 not voting.

Under the Constitution, a nominee for the Constitutional Court must receive the approval of at least half of the Senate's current members, or 100 votes.

Before the votes, Senator Nantana Nantavaropas asked to speak, proposing a postponement due to potential conflicts of interest, as many senators are implicated in the collusion scandal.

Her request drew harsh criticism and protests from other senators, who claimed that the issue had been addressed in previous sessions. Nantana nevertheless continued speaking, defying an order from Senate Vice President Boonsong Noisophon to stop.

Boonsong then ordered her microphone to be cut, but Nantana continued speaking loudly, without the benefit of amplification.

She eventually stopped when Kriangsak warned her that she could be punished for disobeying the order.