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Apathy fear in second Thai vote Apathy fear in second Thai vote
(about 13 hours later)
Voting is under way in Thailand to elect members of the Senate, the second stage in the country's return to democratic government. Counting is under way in Thailand after voting to elect members of the Senate, in the second stage in the country's return to democratic government.
The country was under more than a year of military rule after the 2006 coup that unseated PM Thaksin Shinawatra. The election took place under a new constitution drafted by the military, which has ruled since a 2006 coup that unseated PM Thaksin Shinawatra.
The election takes place under a new constitution drafted by the military. The constitution gives wider powers to the upper house - but nearly half of its members are appointed, not elected.
This gives wider powers to the upper house. However, nearly half of the 150 senators are appointed, not elected, and public interest in the poll is low. This may be why turnout was reportedly lower than expected, say observers.
The election commission heard there could be a small turnout of voters. "We are satisfied with the voter turnout although the number was lower than our target [of 70%]," said Praphan Naiyakovit, who sits on the election commission, according to the Thai News Agency.
The election also risks being overshadowed by the frenzy of excitement that followed the return from exile of Mr Thaksin on Thursday. Thai media said between 50% and 60% of voters had participated.
A recent survey of registered voters suggested only 12% intended to cast their ballots, although the election commission was confident the figure would be much higher. The election may have been overshadowed by the frenzy of excitement that followed the return from exile of Mr Thaksin on Thursday, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok.
Election fatigue?Election fatigue?
One reason for voter apathy could be that the real electoral drama happened over two months ago, when the party led by Mr Thaksin's allies stunned the military government by winning the contest for the lower house. Another reason for voter apathy could be that the real electoral drama happened over two months ago, when the party led by Mr Thaksin's allies stunned the military government by winning the contest for the lower house, our correspondent says.
Another is that this election is only for just over half the Senate - as 74 of the 150 senators have already been appointed by a committee of judges and top bureaucrats. In addition, this election is only for just over half the Senate - as 74 of the 150 senators had already been appointed by a committee of judges and top bureaucrats.
This provision was inserted into the new constitution by the military-appointed drafting committee last year as a kind of guarantee that there would be no repeat of the extraordinary concentration of power in the hands of an elected prime minister, as happened when Mr Thaksin was in office.This provision was inserted into the new constitution by the military-appointed drafting committee last year as a kind of guarantee that there would be no repeat of the extraordinary concentration of power in the hands of an elected prime minister, as happened when Mr Thaksin was in office.
The Senate has considerable muscle - it can sack cabinet ministers and the heads of all the key political oversight bodies, and it can impeach the prime minister.The Senate has considerable muscle - it can sack cabinet ministers and the heads of all the key political oversight bodies, and it can impeach the prime minister.
Its members are supposed to have no ties to political parties.Its members are supposed to have no ties to political parties.
But under the Thaksin administration, the upper house was filled with people either allied to him or related to his ministers, and it was ineffective in challenging his governments. But under the Thaksin administration, the upper house was filled with people either allied to him or related to his ministers, and correspondents said it was ineffective in challenging his governments.
The 74 newly appointed senators appear to be far closer to the outgoing military government than the one now headed by Mr Thaksin's party - that could for the first time produce some genuine battles between the lower and upper houses. The 74 newly appointed senators appear to be far closer to the outgoing military government than the one now headed by Mr Thaksin's party.
This could for the first time produce some genuine battles between the lower and upper houses, our correspondent says.