Anutin Chanvirakul insists he has no involvement in Senate vote-rigging and is ready to clarify all doubts. He firmly denies ever using overwhelming power to remove his name after it appeared in the Election Commission’s case files. Regarding the leaked case documents, he states they cannot be justified as serving the public interest.
At 12:00 on 27 Aug 2026 at Navy Training Center No. 15 (Hat Yao), Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Chanvirakul was interviewed regarding former Nan MP Dr. Chalaneen Srikaew of the Pheu Thai Party, former opposition leader, who is scheduled to speak on "Thai Politics in a Crisis of Confidence" on 29 Aug alongside Yingcheep Atchanont, director of the Internet for People’s Law project (iLaw), likely discussing the Senate vote-rigging case. Anutin said he was unaware of the vote-rigging issue and questioned why he was being asked, stating he is not involved and is part of the government. Regarding his name appearing in the Election Commission’s files, he said that when the time comes for him to clarify or respond legally, he will comply, but so far there has been no such request. His name appeared since the previous government, and he left the coalition three months ago, indicating he did not use any overwhelming power to remove his name. He reaffirmed his non-involvement and willingness to answer any questions. When asked about Dr. Chalaneen’s scheduled speech, Anutin said he did not know about it, that each party manages its own affairs, and as coalition partners they govern together. Dr. Chalaneen is not in his cabinet, and he rarely meets him, so inquiries should be directed to Dr. Chalaneen himself.
Confident that coalition parties will follow rules during the no-confidence debate.
When asked about Justice Minister Police Lieutenant General Rutthapon Naowarat’s statement that the Senate vote-rigging case files leaked during the previous Justice Minister’s tenure and are under investigation, Anutin said the investigation is ongoing. He acknowledged the leak likely occurred, otherwise the documents would not have reached the public. He emphasized that official documents should not be publicly disseminated and cannot be justified as public interest. Anyone with relatives as civil servants who obtains such documents and shares them is violating the law, which everyone must follow. Regarding the opposition’s planned no-confidence debate on the vote-rigging case and whether it is a test of the Pheu Thai Party’s loyalty or a future bargaining tactic, Anutin said that as coalition parties they have rules and etiquette. When he was in the coalition, he also followed these rules. Statuses are equal; one should not focus only on numbers. Disagreement does not mean votes will be withheld to prevent a majority; it is more complex than that and involves many factors. There is no cause for worry. Discussions and consultations with coalition leaders have gone smoothly. The vote on the loan decree on 26 Aug clearly demonstrated the government’s stability, boosting confidence and attracting foreign investment. He stressed the importance of maintaining government stability.
Anutin affirms the government is serious about investigating local corruption.
When asked about the Anti-Corruption Police Division’s arrest of "Mr. Heng," a former parliamentary candidate of a political party, for soliciting 650,000 baht to assist with local civil service exam appointments, Anutin said the actions are in accordance with the law. This serves as evidence that the government is serious about addressing such issues.