2014 Thai Senate election
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77 of the 150 seats in the Senate | |||||||||
| Turnout | 42.79% | ||||||||
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This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. | |||||||||
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Vajiralongkorn (Rama X)
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Phumtham Wechayachai (PTP) BTP )Patcharawat Wongsuwan (PPRP) Pirapan Salirathavibhaga (UTN)
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Legislature 
Singsuk Singpai
Padipat Suntiphada (FA)
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President: Anocha Chevitsophon President: Vorapot Visrutpich President: Nakarin Mektrairat |
 Thailand portal |
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Senate elections were held in Thailand on 29 March 2014 for the second time under the 2007 constitution. Half the senate seats were elected for non-partisan candidates under the first-past-the-post voting system, with voters electing one senator per province. Voter turnout was 43%, down from 56% in the 2008 senate elections and 46% in the February 2014 general elections, which had been boycotted by the opposition,[1][2]
Background
The elections took place against the background of a
The Prime Minister and most of the ruling MPs are facing investigation by the National Anti Corruption Commission, who can refer politicians to the senate for impeachment. The Senate can pass an impeachment with a 60% majority, which results in a ban from political office for five years.[4]
Electoral system
The 2007 constitution provided for a 150-seat Senate, of which just under half are appointed by a Senators Selection Committee, made up of establishment figures. According to political scientist Duncan McCargo, "most appointed senators are broadly in the pro-Democrat camp" which is opposed to the acting government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.[1] A local think tank, the Siam Intelligence Unit, estimates that 90% of the appointed senators are anti-government.[4]
Elected senators must be independent from political parties, with no immediate relatives in parliament and must not have been a member of a political party in the last five years. However, most winning candidates have been endorsed by powerful local party-linked institutions.[4]
Results
There were 443 candidates for the 77 elected seats – an average of 5.5 per seat.[5] There were 48.7 million voters registered for the election and turnout was 43%. This included 17% of voters who went to vote and cast blank or invalid votes.
In the capital Bangkok, the seat was won by Auditor-General
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| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |
| Independents | 17,291,023 | 87.38 | 77 | |
| Blank votes | 2,496,399 | 12.62 | – | |
| Appointed members | 73 | |||
| Total | 19,787,422 | 100.00 | 150 | |
| Valid votes | 19,787,422 | 94.80 | ||
| Invalid votes | 1,086,266 | 5.20 | ||
| Total votes | 20,873,688 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 48,786,842 | 42.79 | ||
| Source: Watanasukh | ||||
References
- ^ a b Thai Election Agency Says Senate Vote Peaceful Amid Low Turnout, Bloomberg Businessweek, 30 March 2014.
- ^ a b c Jaruwan set to win Bangkok senate poll, Bangkok Post, 30 March 2014
- ^ Thailand in limbo after election annulled; economy suffering, Reuters, 21 March 2014
- ^ Today (Singapore newspaper), 30 March 2014
- ^ Thai senate election runs smoothly Archived 2014-03-30 at the Wayback Machine, New Straits Times, 31 March 2014
- ^ a b c Bangkok voters attempt to ‘ward off Thaksin’, Bangkok Post, 31 March 2014
- ^ New Senate could decide PM's fate, 31 March 2014
| General elections | |
|---|---|
| Senate elections | |
| Supplementary elections | |
| By-elections | |
| Local elections | |
| Referendums | |
See also: Election Commission of Thailand | |