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Published on March 20, 2008

 Just before the upper house began performing its job of scrutinising the administrative branch, accusations have surfaced over bribery attempts to buy support for a particular candidate.

Appointed Senator Prasopsuk Boondet managed to win most votes from the Upper House members, beating Buri Ram Senator Taweesak Kidbanjong by a wide margin.

Taweesak has been linked to the Chidchob family of politicians, which has maintained its influence in the northeastern province, where the senator once served as provincial governor.

At the meeting to elect the Speaker, some senators spoke out about what they claimed to be an attempt to buy their support for a particular candidate.

There were allegations of Bt1- million for each vote by a senator, in addition to a Mercedes-Benz car, and a monthly payment for the rest of their term.

Before that, rumours were spread about imminent political interference into the election of the Senate Speaker.

Somchai Sawangkarn, one of the appointed senators, told the Senate meeting last Friday he was approached by an unnamed politician from the Northeast who offered him a bribe in exchange for his support for a particular candidate.

Prasopsuk, whose election as the Speaker is awaiting Royal endorsement, is now under pressure to make it clear whether the bribery allegations, which are damaging to the Senate's reputation, are true or false.

A group of senators have filed a petition for him to appoint a fact-finding committee about the matter.

"The honour and reputation of the Senate are at stake. It appears the upper house has been dominated by outside influence. This scandal should not be allowed to linger," said Trang senator Vichien Kanchong, who filed the motion.

Among the senators an idea has been floated for Bangkok Senator Rosana Tositraku to head the fact-finding committee. Rosana has agreed to head the probe panel if she gets support from her colleagues.

The Senate's four major duties are to scrutinise the government, carefully examine proposed laws passed through the lower house, endorse or reject appointments to independent organisations, and impeach corrupt political office holders.

To perform these duties effectively and efficiently, the Senate needs high levels of integrity and credibility. The bribery scandal is deemed as a bad start for the upper house and a threat to its credibility.

There is a need to find out the truth behind the bribery allegations.

Mistakes should not be repeated. The fully-elected Senate that served until 2006 was tainted with allegations that most of its members came under the influence of political interference.

That resulted in reduced public trust in that upper house, even though many of its members were not money-hungry and were keen to serve the public interest. However, as they formed a minority, they could not effect any major change or act as a deterrent to political intervention.

High hopes have been placed on the current Senate that it can bring change and genuinely act as a balancing force in politics.

The Nation