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Apathy fear in second Thai vote Low turnout in Thai Senate vote
(about 18 hours later)
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. Almost half of Thailand's eligible voters failed to cast their ballots in the country's Senate elections - the second major vote in recent months.
The election took place under a new constitution drafted by the military, which has ruled since a 2006 coup that unseated PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Sunday's poll took place under a new constitution drafted by the military, which ruled for 18 months after ousting PM Thaksin Shinawatra in a coup.
The constitution gives wider powers to the upper house - but nearly half of its members are appointed, not elected.The constitution gives wider powers to the upper house - but nearly half of its members are appointed, not elected.
This may be why turnout was reportedly lower than expected, say observers.This may be why turnout was reportedly lower than expected, say observers.
"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."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.
Thai media said between 50% and 60% of voters had participated. Votes are now being tallied after the election, in which about 56% of the electorate participated.
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.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?
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 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.
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.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 correspondents said 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. 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.This could for the first time produce some genuine battles between the lower and upper houses, our correspondent says.