Thailand's first senatorial election(s): Facts and figures from Matichon Weekly. (Reports On Thai Political Developments).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Translated from "Expensive but Worthwhile?: 200 Senators at the price of THB 2,300 Million" Matichon Weekly, 31 July 2000

Finally Thailand received its 200th senator on 27 July 2000, Ms Wilawan Tanwattanapong. She was the winner whose victory in Ubon Rajthani Province received endorsement from the Central Election Committee.

Thailand's first senatorial race commenced on March 4, 2000. Charges of vote buying and other tactics led the CCE to deny many winners from the first election senatorial seats. CCE, as a result, called for by-elections. (By-elections are held in addition to regular elections. They are called for when an official resigns or can no longer fulfil his post, or in this case, when the previous elections are deemed corrupt.) In fact, the CCE had to call for four by-elections:

 
March 4, 2000 Election     CCE endorsed 122 
                            election winners 
April 29, 2000             CCE endorsed 62 winners 
 By-election                winners 
June 4, 2000 By-election   CCE endorsed 12 winners 
June 23, 2000 By-election  CCE endorsed 3 winners 
July 22, 2000 By-election  CCE endorsed 1 winner 

Total actual expenditures for organizing these senatorial elections and by-elections was THB 2,300 ...