Nantana urges the Election Commission (EC) to stop hindering the public's election scrutiny, asserting that it is impossible to cover the sky with a palm and that the EC resorts to lawsuits to silence critics. Lawyer An declares his intention to serve as legal counsel for all individuals prosecuted by the EC.
On 2 Mar 2026 GMT+7 at the Parliament, Dr. Nantana Nantaworopas, a member of the Senate, along with lawyer An Buriram, held a press conference regarding the EC’s operations. They stated that the recent election overseen by the EC was fraught with numerous errors, reflecting inefficiency in managing the electoral process. Despite the EC having conducted multiple elections before, this time there were unclear vote counts, discrepancies between reported results and those at polling stations, delayed announcement of results, yet a rapid certification of MPs. There was also an issue concerning barcodes on ballots, with ongoing uncertainty about whether marking ballots compromises ballot secrecy.
Instead of communicating transparently with the public to dispel doubts, the EC chooses to file lawsuits to silence citizens. For example, in Chonburi Province, District 1, citizens examined whether the EC’s actions complied with the Constitution. As good citizens, it is their duty to help scrutinize the election. The EC’s conduct represents an abuse of power and disregards democratic oversight traditions. Dr. Nantana further stated,
The EC’s legal actions against various individuals amount to an attempt to cover the sky with a palm, refusing to allow public scrutiny of its duties. From my perspective as a senator, the EC should welcome rigorous public oversight from all angles to ensure transparency, integrity, and ballot secrecy in this election. The EC should cease obstructing public examination and instead cooperate fully to ensure the election of MPs and the government is accepted by the people beyond doubt.
Lawyer Phattharaphong Suphakorn, also known as lawyer An Buriram, added that prosecuting those who mobilize to scrutinize ballots — none of whom are criminals or subversives as the EC alleges — shows the EC’s lack of confidence in the legality of its own actions. By filing suits to silence the public, the EC as an independent agency abuses its power to suppress voices. No society in the world succeeds in silencing its people this way; on the contrary, the voices of the oppressed grow louder and wider.
“I am ready to serve as legal counsel for anyone sued by the EC to silence them. Our society must advance with courage, not fear as they want. I am prepared to fight alongside the people,” lawyer An said.
Regarding progress on submitting a petition to the Ombudsman to request the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the illegality of the election, lawyer An said he will draft a petition highlighting the election process, including the transfer of governors involved in the election, for the Ombudsman’s consideration. He will also seek a temporary protection order and emergency inquiry to prevent newly elected MPs from commencing their duties. The petition will be submitted to the Ombudsman on Wednesday, 4 March.
“I do not want the House of Representatives to open under these circumstances, when the election is disgraceful and tainted. I disagree with certifying results first and impeaching later, especially given how chaotic the process has been,” Phattharaphong concluded.
