Newly elected senators started receiving certificates today from the Election Commission (EC), before reporting to the Senate.
The first senator-elect to obtain their certificate was Nuannit Hongwiwat, who told reporters that she arrived at 7am to avoid traffic congestion and crowds.
She said she hopes that the three leaders of the Senate will include a woman and that she is ready for the job.
The senators-elect have three days, from today, to report to the Senate’s Secretariat.
The EC confirmed the 200 newly elected senators yesterday. They will replace the 250 military-appointed members, whose terms expired in May. They are now acting senators, pending the new senators officially taking office.
EC’s secretary general, Sawaeng Boonmee, has said that, although his office has already certified the list of new senators, investigations into complaints of possible electoral fraud are ongoing.
The 200 new senators will no longer have powers to vote, with the House of Representatives, in approving the appointment of a prime minister.
They do have the power to select members of independent regulatory bodies, such as the EC and the National Anti-Corruption Commission, for royal appointment.
Photo : Nuannit Hongwiwat
