At 11:00 AM on May 28, at the Parliament, Senator Nantana Nantavorapass, along with a group of Senate candidates and Mr. Phattharaphong Supakson (aka Lawyer Aun from Buriram), held a press conference regarding the petition urging Senators under investigation for collusion in the Senate selection to suspend their duties.
Senator Nantana apologized for being unable to gather the required 20 signatures due to the limited number of independent Senators (only 40–50), noting the challenge posed by the strong language of the impeachment petition, which could provoke backlash from the majority “blue” group in the Senate. Citing former Constitutional Court judge Charan Pakdithanakul, she emphasized that while not illegal, ethical considerations are paramount, especially when examining the integrity of those assuming critical roles.
She added that, per Mr. Charan’s view, the process should be postponed as those in independent bodies are still functioning, and there is no immediate legal vacuum. She urged the Senate majority to delay the May 30 vote out of ethical responsibility, pointing out the potential conflict of interest and lack of transparency in approving appointments to independent agencies.
Nantana revealed a secondary plan: to submit an urgent verbal motion to halt the vote, given that a previous written motion by Senator Tewarit Maneechaai has not yet been scheduled. She also proposed long-term reforms for greater transparency in vetting candidates for independent agencies, including full disclosure of background, qualifications, and vision.
She called on the public to monitor the May 30 Senate session and to voice opposition, warning that allowing the current Senate—many of whom face legitimacy concerns—to approve key judicial and oversight appointments creates a grave conflict of interest. She attributed the root of the issue to flaws in the 2017 Constitution and called for comprehensive constitutional reform to close loopholes in the Senate appointment process and better regulate independent bodies.
Lawyer Aun stated the effort still needs 19 more Senators and questioned the true independence of so-called “white” group members. He criticized the majority’s push for these appointments and urged nominees to show integrity by refusing positions filled under questionable circumstances. He concluded that he would pursue the last available legal channel regarding undermining democracy through a complaint filed with the Attorney General, which is due for review within 15 days.