Royal Decree for selection of 200 senators announced

12 Sept 09:58 Key points summarised by AI

A Royal Decree has been enacted, initiating the process for selecting 200 senators, as published in the Royal Gazette.
The Election Commission (EC) is responsible for selecting 50 senators through a multi-stage intra-group voting process, starting at the district level.
The remaining 200 senators will include 6 ex-officio positions for top military and police officials, and 194 handpicked by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) from a screened list.
The EC has issued regulations detailing candidate qualifications, criteria to prevent collusion, and the intra-group selection mechanics for the 50 senators under its purview.

Civic groups oppose plan to shift Thai PBS, three other bodies to state budget

Yesterday 17:04 Key points summarised by AI

Civic groups, including those representing labourers and older people, submitted a protest letter demanding the Bhumjaithai Party withdraw bills to shift funding for four organizations (Thai PBS, Older Persons Fund, Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Sports Authority of Thailand) from earmarked taxes to the central government budget.
Leaders argue these organizations were established for public interest, supporting public service media, elder care, public health, and sports development, and any amendments should consider all stakeholders' views.
Over 70% of parliamentary poll respondents opposed the proposed changes, prompting civic leaders to call on the ruling party to respect the people's will and withdraw the bills.
A network of slum dwellers also opposes the funding changes, threatening a rally if the government fails to address their demands.