A profile of Jirut Wisalchit, former Director-General of the Department of Land Transport, following the Senate's overwhelming vote to approve him as the new Election Commissioner.
On 26 February 2026, following the first extraordinary session of the Senate at 09:30, the urgent agenda was to consider the approval of two nominees for the position of Election Commissioner to fill vacancies. The nominees were Mr. Jirut Wisalchit, former Director-General of the Department of Land Transport, and Mr. Monthon Sudprasert, former Director-General of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning and former Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. They were nominated to replace Mr. Lertwiroj Kowatthana and Mr. Thitikhet Nuchanat, whose terms had expired.
Previously, the Senate appointed a standing committee to investigate the backgrounds, conduct, and ethical behavior of the nominees for Election Commissioner, with a mandated period of 60 days from the date of appointment. This period concluded on Saturday, 21 February 2026.
The standing committee conducted thorough investigations into the nominees' backgrounds, conduct, and ethical behavior by consulting 19 relevant government agencies and departments. They also evaluated the nominees' ethical standards in line with those for Constitutional Court judges and officials in independent organizations, including the Auditor General and administrative heads of the Constitutional Court and independent agencies. The committee interviewed supervisors, colleagues, and subordinates, both past and present, of the nominees. The findings were documented in the committee’s confidential report.
Most recently, the Senate voted to approve Mr. Jirut Wisalchit as an Election Commissioner with 144 votes in favor, 1 against, and 26 abstentions. This majority exceeded half of the total Senators, which is 100 votes, thereby granting Mr. Jirut Senate approval to assume the position.
. Mr. Jirut Wisalchit Former Director-General of the Department of Land Transport, aged 60 years at the time of application.
Educational qualifications
- Bachelor of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, 1987
- Master of Public Administration, National University,
San Diego, California, United States, 1990
Work experience
- Deputy Director-General, Department of Land Transport (12 July 2013 – 19 September 2016)
- Inspector General, Ministry of Transport (20 September 2016 – 15 October 2017)
- Director-General, Marine Department (16 October 2017 – 30 September 2018)
- Inspector General, Ministry of Transport (1 October 2018 – 8 April 2019)
- Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport (9 April 2019 – 30 September 2019)
- Director-General, Department of Land Transport (1 October 2019 – 30 September 2025)
Current positions
- Retired civil servant affiliated with the Department of Land Transport (1 October 2025 – present)
- Chairman of the State Railway of Thailand Board (15 October 2019 – present)
- Director of Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited Board (30 January 2024 – present)