26 February 1957
‘The dirtiest election ever’ Seni Pramoj calls for nullification, Premier Plaek denies poll fraud allegations
People cast their votes in record numbers to elect a 160-seat National Assembly and help create a new government, though the polls were disgraced by widespread charges of fraud and other abuses.
The election returned a shaky coalition controlled by the Seri Manangkasila Party, led by Police Director-General Phao Sriyanond. Despite accusations of poll fraud, half of the Seri Manangkasila Party’s incumbent assembly members were defeated.
Bangkok army chief Sarit Thanarat resigned from the embattled government, increasing his own popularity. A man in Bangkok was caught in possession of a stack of so-called ‘fire-ballots’ that were already marked, confirming the choice of candidates. When confronted with the illegal, pre-marked ballots, Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram replied, ‘I swear that I have nothing to do with this. I am certain of getting elected myself. I do not have to resort to this.’
The King and Queen meanwhile were listed as eligible voters in Phra Nakhon district, after the media publicly debated whether or not the monarch had the right to vote. Well-known attorney Seni Pramoj asked the Civil Court to annul the election but it was ruled valid in June.
Although Plaek had come to power in 1947 in a military coup, he told a newspaper before the vote, ‘I will not seek power through a coup. I shall seek election’. But the election was not intended to determine who held a majority in the National Assembly. Half of the 320 seats were filled by government appointment, guaranteeing that Plaek would retain power.
26 February 1957
‘The dirtiest election ever’ Seni Pramoj calls for nullification, Premier Plaek denies poll fraud allegations
People cast their votes in record numbers to elect a 160-seat National Assembly and help create a new government, though the polls were disgraced by widespread charges of fraud and other abuses.
The election returned a shaky coalition controlled by the Seri Manangkasila Party, led by Police Director-General Phao Sriyanond. Despite accusations of poll fraud, half of the Seri Manangkasila Party’s incumbent assembly members were defeated.
Bangkok army chief Sarit Thanarat resigned from the embattled government, increasing his own popularity. A man in Bangkok was caught in possession of a stack of so-called ‘fire-ballots’ that were already marked, confirming the choice of candidates. When confronted with the illegal, pre-marked ballots, Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram replied, ‘I swear that I have nothing to do with this. I am certain of getting elected myself. I do not have to resort to this.’
The King and Queen meanwhile were listed as eligible voters in Phra Nakhon district, after the media publicly debated whether or not the monarch had the right to vote. Well-known attorney Seni Pramoj asked the Civil Court to annul the election but it was ruled valid in June.
Although Plaek had come to power in 1947 in a military coup, he told a newspaper before the vote, ‘I will not seek power through a coup. I shall seek election’. But the election was not intended to determine who held a majority in the National Assembly. Half of the 320 seats were filled by government appointment, guaranteeing that Plaek would retain power.