New Thai Senate Speaker to be elected on Aug 14

BANGKOK, August 13 (TNA) - The election of the new Thai Senate Speaker is scheduled to be held on August 14, with a fierce competition between candidates from elected and appointed senators. The election is held after former Thai Senate speaker General Teeradej Meepian was recently dismissed from the post, following the Criminal Court's sentencing him to a two-year suspended jail term for wrongfully raising monthly meeting allowances for himself while he was chief ombudsman in 2004. Elected senators are going all out for their candidate to win the seat, as there is only slightly more than a year left before Thailand's new senatorial poll is to be held for 77 elected senators who are going to complete their term, as required by the Constitution. It is expected that elected senators will propose Nikom Wairatpanich, who represents the eastern Chachoengsao Province to compete in the race. The whole scenario among appointed senators is totally different as Pichet Sunthornphipit seems to be the only choice among them to compete for the post at least for the time being. Candidates contesting for the post are required to display their visions, followed by a secret vote casting. The winner is to receive votes exceeding half of the total senators, but if no one receives the majority of votes, the first two candidates who receive highest votes are to then compete in the second round of voting. (TNA)