The Senate meeting surprised observers by approving only Jirut Wisaljitra, former Director-General of the Department of Land Transport, as Election Commissioner, while rejecting Monton 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.
At 09:30 on 26 Feb 2026 GMT+7, an extraordinary Senate session was held at the Parliament. Senate President Mongkol Surasajja presided over the meeting to consider the appointment of two nominees to the Election Commission (EC): Jirut Wisaljitra, former Director-General of the Department of Land Transport, and Monton 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, to replace Lertwiroj Kowattana and Thititchet Nuchanat, whose terms had expired.
Before the agenda, the Senate had Pisut Sapwijit, recently promoted to Senator, take the oath before beginning his duties. The meeting then proceeded to consider the two EC nominees as proposed by the ordinary committee responsible for investigating the nominees’ backgrounds, conduct, and ethics, recommending Jirut and Monton for Senate approval or rejection.
Senator Thewarit Maneechai questioned why the Senate did not include a motion to postpone the appointment of the two EC members, citing concerns that many Senators are under legal investigation for improper Senate appointments, which could lead to a conflict of interest if the EC members were appointed now. Mongkol explained that excluding such a motion was to avoid neglecting duties, as the extraordinary session could only address agenda items specified in the session notice.
Several new-generation Senators opposed voting to appoint the EC members, arguing that many Senators face election-rigging charges. Senator Nantana Nantavaropas argued that pushing ahead with the EC appointments could create conflicts of interest, akin to judges ruling on their own cases, since both nominees were former executives from the Ministries of Transport and Interior closely tied to political parties.
Meanwhile, Senators from the Blue Group, such as Chinchoot Saengsang, countered that allegations against 138 Senators for election rigging remain accusations pending investigation and court rulings. Senators do not elect EC members but only approve nominees selected by bodies including the Supreme Court President, Parliament President, and the Supreme Administrative Court President. He urged to stop defaming Senators, reminding that those accused are still presumed innocent until the court's verdict. Mongkol then moved the session into a closed meeting to continue considering the EC appointments.
At 12:24, after the closed session, the meeting resumed with live broadcast. Senate Vice President Boonsong Noisophon chaired and called for a vote to approve the two Election Commissioners. The results were as follows.
Jirut Wisaljitra, former Director-General of the Department of Land Transport, was approved by the Senate to serve as Election Commissioner. With the vote count
The Senate vote approved Jirut Wisaljitra as Election Commissioner, as he received the approval of more than half of the total current Senate members.
Meanwhile, Monton 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, was not approved by the Senate to serve as Election Commissioner. With the following vote tally
The Senate vote rejected Monton Sudprasert for the EC position, as he received fewer than half of the total current Senate members' approval.
At 12:35, the Royal Command was read, officially closing the extraordinary parliamentary session of 2026. All Senators stood as the President formally adjourned the meeting at 12:37.
