The Senate has endorsed Chirute Visalachitra as the newest member of the Election Commission (EC), marking a new chapter in its ongoing power struggle with the Upper House.
The appointment of Chirute, who retired as Land Transport Department director-general last year, was approved on February 26 despite concerns – even among some senators – about their legitimacy to vote on the matter.
Chirute, the fourth EC commissioner endorsed by the current Upper House, replaces one of the two commissioners whose seven-year term expired last December – Lertviroj Kowattana and Thitichet Nuchanatta. He secured a strong backing from the 200-member Senate – with 144 votes for, one against and 26 abstentions – and will assume the post upon receiving royal approval.
However, the other EC candidate nominated at the same time, Monton Sudprasert, failed to win endorsement, securing just nine votes in favour, 102 against and 57 abstentions.
Monton, 65, is a former director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning.
Haunted by election scandal
The endorsement vote proceeded despite appeals from a minority of senators to delay the process. They pointed out that numerous Upper House members are currently facing an EC investigation into allegations of collusion and fraud in last year’s senatorial election.
Permitting these senators to approve a new commissioner was thus a clear conflict of interest, they argued.
Senator Nantana Nantavaropas, a key figure in the minority group, urged the Upper House to suspend the endorsement of members to independent bodies until the case is finalised.
In July last year, a joint investigation by the EC and the Department of Special Investigation recommended that 229 individuals – 138 sitting senators and 91 others, including Bhumjaithai Party executives – be charged with electoral fraud amid claims that the Senate election had been rigged.
However, the EC remained undecided on whether to proceed with charges.
Last year, Nantana and her group also sought to block Senate votes on a new Constitutional Court judge and three new EC members, but their attempts failed.
Chirute and the other election commissioners endorsed by the current Senate now form a majority on the seven-member EC.
The three commissioners endorsed last year are former Supreme Court judge Narong Klanwarin, former Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry permanent secretary Anan Suwannarat and ex-Samut Sakhon governor Narong Rukroi. The trio assumed office on December 7. Narong Klanwarin was voted in as EC chairman by his colleagues.
Three decades in bureaucracy
Chirute collected a bachelor's degree in political science from Chulalongkorn University and a master’s in public administration from the National University of San Diego in the US.
He joined the Transport Ministry over three decades ago and retired last year as the Land Transport Department director general.
The veteran bureaucrat occupied several key posts at the ministry, heading the Port Authority of Thailand, Thai Smile Airways, and the Transport Company. He also served as Department of Land Transport deputy director-general for administration, Marine Department director-general, and chief inspector-general of the ministry.
He was promoted to Land Transport Department director general in October 2019 and reached mandatory retirement last September.
However, he continued to serve as chairman of the State Railway of Thailand and director of Airports of Thailand PLC, both state enterprises.
Chirute declared total assets of 45.6 million baht to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, including 10.2 million in bank deposits, 20 million in investments, and five land plots valued at 7 million.
His wife Sirilak, reported assets totalling 31.8 million baht, including 9.8 million in bank deposits, 3.5 million in investments, two land plots (3.4 million), three houses (9.3 million), and jewellery (2 million).
