Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday defended the regime's choice of senators, 101 of whom have military and police backgrounds.
They have experience in law-making and reform work and should be up to the job, he said.
Gen Prawit, who chaired the Senate selection committee, said the senators were chosen because they had either served in the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) or the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), both of which were installed by the regime.
He said they had taken part in law-making and reform work, and he was sure they would meet expectations as senators.
Gen Prawit brushed off accusations of nepotism, despite six of the senators being his classmates from Class 6 of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School and another being his younger brother, Adm Sitthawat Wongsuwon.
"There's just a couple of them. That's all of them," he said.
Asked if the Senate would tip the balance in favour of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha when both chambers meet to choose a new prime minister, he said the Senate is allowed to vote and it is for them to decide.
Gen Prayut yesterday echoed Gen Prawit's comment that many of the senators have experience and their qualifications have been vetted.
Regarding criticism that 1.5 billion baht was spent on the Senate selection process, he said the expenditure covered the selection of 200 shortlisted candidates from 10 professional groups across the country by the Election Commission (EC).
Of these 200 shortlisted candidates, 50 were selected to join the 194 senators chosen by the Prawit panel.
The six others are the commanders of the armed forces, the chief of the defence forces, the national police chief, and the defence permanent secretary.
