Corruption plagues Thai poll rerun

Corruption plagues Thai poll rerun

BANGKOK (AFP): Allegations of rampant corruption have surfaced during advance voting in the rerun senate elections in Thailand, after the first round was tarnished by vote buying, reports said on Sunday.

After the original Senate polls on March 4 were marred by vote buying, the Election Commission announced a rerun on April 29 in constituencies where the winner was disqualified for cheating.

Samut Prakan election committee officials told the Bangkok Post that candidates in the new ballot had handed out cash at parties celebrating the Thai New Year.

The prime minister's office minister, Jurin Laksanavisit, told reporters the senate elections would be repeated again and again if the corruption continued.

Second round voting in 35 provinces will send 78 candidates to the upper house, where they will join 122 other senators endorsed after the original polls.