Election Commission Secretary-General Under Scrutiny
The Secretary-General of the Election Commission (EC) is facing potential dismissal following a performance evaluation that reportedly fell short of the required threshold. The evaluation, conducted by a seven-member panel, indicated a score below the 60% benchmark mandated by the 2025 performance review process.
Evaluation Process Under Scrutiny
While the performance assessment has been completed by most members of the evaluation panel, led by former chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong who concluded his term on December 6, 2025, it has not yet been formally submitted to a full EC meeting. A key reason for the delay is the outstanding assessment from commissioner Thitichet Nuchanatta. This matter is anticipated to be addressed at a forthcoming mid-June meeting of the newly constituted EC board, now under the chairmanship of Narong Klunwarin.
Legal Framework for Performance
Under Section 56 of the organic law governing the EC, the secretary-general is obligated to meet contractual requirements. A critical component of these requirements is achieving a minimum score of 60% in annual performance evaluations. Reports indicate that the previous EC panel had already compiled six voting documents pertaining to the secretary-general’s assessment. The EC Office is awaiting commissioner Thitichet’s contribution before proceeding with the submission to the full commission, which will then deliberate on the potential termination of his contract.
Controversy Surrounding Evaluators
The situation has ignited controversy, with questions arising about the legitimacy of the evaluation process. Specifically, concerns have been raised regarding the authority of four former commissioners—Ittiporn Boonpracong, Santad Siriananphai, Lertviroj Kowattana, and Pakorn Mahannop—who participated in the assessment. Their involvement is being questioned as contractual stipulations require evaluators to be serving commissioners at the time of the assessment. This procedural point was reportedly a subject of discussion during a private EC meeting held on Thursday.
Calls for Broader Scrutiny
Former commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn has voiced criticism regarding the evaluation process. In a public statement shared on social media, he argued that it appears contradictory for the secretary-general to face removal based on performance concerns, while the EC itself has remained largely shielded from public examination despite ongoing discussions about its overall effectiveness.
