BANGKOK: Thailand will hold a senate election in June, the government said on Tuesday (Apr 23), the first poll for the upper house since a military coup a decade ago.
The cabinet of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin approved plans for the complex, multi-round election – which does not include a full public vote.
Ministers also agreed to hold a referendum asking Thais whether they would support changing the constitution, which was drawn up by the then-ruling junta in 2017.
The senate, whose 250 current members were appointed by the junta that seized power in 2014, played a crucial role in determining the outcome of last year’s general election.
The progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) won most seats in the lower house, but its leader Pita Limjaroenrat was blocked from becoming prime minister because he did not muster enough support in the senate.
Srettha, whose Pheu Thai party finished second in the election, formed a coalition government with army-linked parties.
