• 
• 

Published on March 3, 2008

The country saw a lacklustre turnout for the Senatorial election with 55 per cent of voters going to the polls overall, but just 40 per cent bothered to turn out in Bangkok.

EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said the unofficial turnout yesterday was 25 million voters, or 55.9 per cent, out of 44.9 million who were eligible. About 2 million voters, 8.1 per cent, abstained, he said, while 909,894 invalid ballot cards, or 3.6 per cent, were found.

As expected, Rosana Tositrakul won by a landslide as senator for Bangkok with 743,397 votes, according to preliminary results, followed by Nitipong Hornak with 221,067 votes and Anusorn Thamjai with 195.714.

Under the new election rule of one senator for one province, Bangkok saw a turn out of only 40.05 per cent or 1.6 million voters out of 4.2 million who were eligible.

People who failed to go to the polling stations said they did not vote because they did not know there was an election yesterday. Some said they did not know who to vote for and others said they did not know what senators do.

Although the 2007 Constitution bans direct family members (father, mother, children and husband or wife) of politicians from running for the Senate, many candidates won the election with the support of political groups.

For instance, the major factor for Mongkol Srikamhaeng's victory in Chanthaburi was thought to be coming from the fact that his wife is vice president of the Chanthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation.

She is believed to have the backing of the People Power Party and Pracharaj Party.

In Chachoengsao, Nikom Wairatpanit, a former Bangkok city clerk, won the seat because of support from powerful families.

Ketsini Kaewattana, daughter of veteran politician Bunpan Kaewattana won the seat in Ayuthaya.

Other candidates who scored high votes included former senators who won the 2006 senatorial election but had not started working because of the September coup.

They included Chon Buri's Surachai Chaitrakulthong, who was the province's ex-chairman for the Provincial Federation of Thai Industry.

Direk Tungfang won the seat in Nonthaburi, Paiboon Samsiripong won the seat in Pathum Thani and Sai Kangkawekin in Rayong.

Rosana thanked Bangkok voters for their support and trust in her saying she believed her victory would help create transparency in the country's political arena. She pledged to carry out her duties with honesty.

Rosana called for continued support from the public once she starts, saying people power is a most significant force that can help create transparency in the country.

People Power Party deputy spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said he hoped Rosana would carry out her role as senator and not as a non-government oraganisation official who may see the government as an opponent.

Bangkok Election Commission chairman Ping Rungsamai said although the turnout in Bangkok was lower than expected, the percentage was acceptable.

He believed there were many reasons contributing to the lower turnout such as the change in the election system that allows only one senator in Bangkok, even if it covers a large area.

Voters do not know the senatorial candidates and there were restrictions in election campaigns.

Also, there was political sentiment clouding the event, such as the many transfers of high-ranking officials and the recent return of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Nation