The committee will invite the 10 to rebut complaints lodged against them as part of the vetting of their qualifications. The committee will submit a report to the Senate, which will vote on the appointment of the final five election commissioners.

The upper chamber will hold a meeting on Thursday to vote on the appointment of the EC.  Keep an eye on the Senate minority which has threatened a boycott if caretaker Senate Speaker Suchon Chaleekrua forces a vote on the appointment of the five election commissioners. Suchon appeared to try to rush the vote ahead of the royal decree for the session's closing date. However, if they cannot vote on Thursday they must request that the Cabinet reconvene the House for a special session to select the EC.

If this happens the general election scheduled for October 15 would be postponed.

NCCC nominees explain status

The five nominees for the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) who were questioned by the Senate about their rankings will submit explanation letters to the Constitution Court this week to defend themselves.

Last week the court received a petition from the Senate speaker to rule on the qualifications of the five NCCC nominees as there was uncertainty about their rankings being comparable to that of a director-general in the civil service or its private-sector equivalent.

Suthep libel case begins

The Southern Bangkok Criminal Court today holds a pre-trial hearing in a libel case filed by Thai Rak Thai Party deputy secretary-general Pongsak Ruktapongpisal against Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban. The case involves Suthep's allegation that he was involved in an alleged plot to hire minor political parties to contest the April elections.