The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has voted down all seven candidates for the new Election Commission (EC) in a move that will force the search process to start anew.
The NLA cast secret ballots on Thursday for the EC candidates forwarded by the screening committee - and every single one failed to pass the vote.
Each name needed 124 out of a total of 248 legislators' votes. None got even half the required amount.
Pracha Terat
Former deputy permanent secretary for interior affairs Pracha Terat came first, but even he could garner only 57 votes. Former rector of Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University Ruangwit Ketsuwan was last with only 10 votes.
The most well-known candidate was secretary-general of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission Takorn Tantasith - and he had only 27 backers amongst the NLA members.
Other candidates were lawyer Chomphan Pongcharoensutheerachat, former Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin rector Issaree Hansacharoonrote, judge Chatchai Chanpraisri and judge Pakorn Mahannop. Mr Chatchai and Pakorn were under the quota of the Supreme Court.
The candidates were selected by the screening panel from 41 names.
A source in the NLA said all candidates possessed the qualifications required in the Constitution, but they had no experience in handling elections. None were trusted by the NLA to be EC members, the source added.
A new search for new EC members must start within 90 days.
