Former Buri Ram governor, Mongkol Surasatja, 72, was elected new Senate president today.
In the secret ballot among the new senators, Mongkol gained 159 votes, while Premsak received 13 and Nantana received 19. Four abstained, and five ballots were invalid.
Before voting, the three candidates for the presidency were each allowed five minutes to present their visions.
Later Former Fourth Army Region Commander, Gen. Kriangsak Srisuk, was elected the first vice president of the Senate.
He gained 150 votes, while three other candidates; former Deputy Rector of Thammasat University Noppadon Inna, 63, received 27 votes; Lae Dilokvidhyarat, 77, a Chulalongkorn University economics expert, obtained 16 votes; and Patima Jeerapaet, 57, got five votes.
There were also two invalid ballots.
