2008 Thai Senate election

Senate elections were held in Thailand on 2 March 2008, the first under a new constitution. Voter turnout was 56%.^[1] Results were expected on 9 March 2008.^[2]

76 candidates were elected, one for each province, while 74 senators will be nominated by a selection panel headed by the Constitution Tribunal's president Virat Limvichai. Nominations for these seats were made by professional groups between 13 January and 18 January 2008, whereafter a panel appointed by the Electoral Commission vetted the nominees' credentials before forwarding the nominations to the selection panel.^[3] The Thai Election Commission endorsed the 74 senators selected from the nominations.^[4] The senators will serve six-year terms.

The nominated senators are considered to be closer to the outgoing military administration,^[5] while among the elected senators a substantial number are closely connected to deposed former PM Thaksin. A prominent critic of Thaksin and anti-corruption activist also appeared to have been elected.^[6]

On 13 March 2008, the Senate President was elected. The former Appeals Court president Prasopsuk Boondej, a nominated senator, received 78 votes. Thaweesak Khidbanchong, considered to be close to former minister Newin Chidchob, received 45 votes; General Lertrat Ratanawanit, reportedly closely connected to the defunct coup-making Council for National Security received 15 votes, and Police Lieutenant-General Manoj Kraiwong, who had been criticised for having leaned onto the opposition Democrat Party, received six votes.^[7]