At 8:30 a.m. on May 20 at Government House, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul addressed media questions regarding the Election Commission’s (EC) accusations related to alleged Senate vote manipulation involving Bhumjaithai Party members. He downplayed the issue, saying that everyone named had already spoken to the media and that people were overthinking it.
When asked if he saw the issue as politically motivated, Anutin, speaking as a political observer rather than a government official, said he firmly believed it was indeed a political matter. He called the situation “nonsense” and a distraction from real work that should benefit the public.
Asked whether the allegations truly implicated the Bhumjaithai Party, Anutin pointed out that there had been no wrongdoing by the party. He referenced a formal order issued by him as party leader on April 30, 2024, strictly prohibiting party members, MPs, and staff from being involved in the Senate selection process. “No one ever mentions our clear order. I don’t even know how the Senate selection works because we stayed out of it,” he said.
Anutin warned that if Bhumjaithai continues to be unfairly targeted, the party would pursue legal action—defamation, false reporting, or civil suits—depending on the nature of the accusations. “We have over 70 MPs and a million party-list votes. We must protect the value of our party,” he said.
On the possibility of more ministers being summoned, Anutin reiterated that the party is unrelated and urged people to read the official order. “We’ve distanced ourselves from the start. Don’t fabricate or force allegations on us,” he insisted, noting that the party is ready to cooperate fully with any investigation.
“This is political, on a micro scale, with zero relevance to the public. For two months, no one’s asked what we’re doing for the people,” he criticized. He added that Bhumjaithai ministers had been actively working on the ground while others obsessed over baseless politics.
Regarding former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's praise of his work, Anutin said he hadn’t met Thaksin since April 11 but appreciated the kind words if true. He affirmed full support for the current prime minister, saying, “I give everything I’ve got. I have nothing to hide—just glasses, no knives.”
When asked about rumors of cosmetic surgery due to his refreshed appearance, he joked, “Maybe I’m not stressed,” and wished good fortune to all—even his critics.
Asked if his calm demeanor came from having a political strategy in place, Anutin simply replied that there was no need for a plan—because neither he nor the party had done anything wrong. “This has become a farce. No one talks about the real issues anymore. People forgot about Trump’s tax policy already. Focus on the work,” he concluded.