Bangkok: Abhisit Vejjajiva has expressed his belief that the Senate collusion case will not conclude by September 14th. He clarified that his statement was not a threat but emphasized that the opposition would leverage its legal rights if the Election Commission fails to escalate the case to court, seeing it as a coordinated scheme. He referred to past rulings where even verbal exchanges were deemed illegal, and warned that collusion in the Constitutional Drafting Assembly (CDA) could pose a more significant threat than Senate collusion if the constitution concerning independent organizations isn't promptly amended.
According to Thai News Agency, during a public outreach session for the 2026 fiscal year by the House of Representatives' Leaders, questions arose about the potential Senate election fraud and the consequences if the Election Commission did not pursue charges. Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, noted Thai society's uniqueness where disagreements might be misconstrued as agreements. He cited a meeting of the Committee on Judicial Affairs where former Deputy Prime Minister Bowornsak Uwanno highlighted the importance of reviewing independent organizations' history back to the pre-1997 era. He pointed out the absence of court rulings on election wrongdoings and the lack of involvement by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in such cases. Abhisit emphasized the need for a careful evaluation of these organizations' roles.
Mr. Abhisit underscored the necessity of drafting a new constitution and establishing a Constitutional Drafting Assembly (CDA). He cautioned against potential "collusion" within the CDA, which could result in manipulation by writing new rules to sustain the current situation. He stressed the importance of amending the constitution, particularly concerning the Senate and independent organizations, and encouraged societal involvement in bringing about change.
Abhisit highlighted two critical tests to assess the effectiveness of the oversight mechanism in scrutinizing everyone. He mentioned the pending request to forward an impeachment motion against the NACC committee handling a case involving Mr. Saksayam Chidchob to the Supreme Court. He called for transparency in the selection of a committee of experts to maintain independence. Mr. Was Tingsmith, a former senior judge, stated that if there are reasonable grounds, matters should be sent to court.
Abhisit expressed concerns over news of a pre-election celebration with the assumption of acquittal by September 14th. He emphasized that the Election Commission is not the ultimate judge but functions as an investigative body. The credibility of evidence and its measurement remains a question. Abhisit mentioned past Supreme Court rulings where mere exchanges were considered offenses, highlighting the significance of credible evidence.
Abhisit stated that the notion of the case concluding by September 14th is misguided. He asserted that more information and facts will surface, and legal actions will be pursued. He called for an honest exercise of legal rights and emphasized the importance of societal scrutiny despite potential obstacles. He firmly believes that the case will not end on September 14th.