Gen-Z students oppose an unelected senate 17 to 1

Neill FrondePublished: 13:41, 26 September 2022| Updated: 14:00, 26 September 2022

197 1 minute read

Gen-Z students oppose an unelected senate 17 to 1 — Students gather at a pro-democracy rally against military rule and the Constitutional Courtís ruling to dissolve the progressive opposition Future Forward Party, at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok on February 24, 2020. - A stridently anti-military Thai party was dissolved on February 21 and its key members banned from politics for a decade over a $6 million loan by its billionaire founder, a withering blow to the kingdom's pro-democracy movement. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

PHOTO: Students, like those in this 2020 protest, don't want an unelected Senate. (via Lillian Suwanrumpha)

A new poll of university students revealed that Generation Z does not want an unelected Senate to be a part of the government anymore. The survey showed that by an overwhelming margin of 17 to one, the emerging generation does not want appointed officials. They believe that senators not elected by the people only hinder and undermine the democratic rule.

The poll was conducted by a political scientist at Rangsit University and talked to 707 students between the ages of 18 and 25 from around the country. It sought their opinion on the current and future political situation, specifically about the unelected Senate. The current senators were selected and installed by the former army leader and the now suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha when he took control of the Thai government in a military coup in 2014.

Do you believe there should be an unelected Senate in the government?

85.50% – opposed to an appointed senate
5.10% – support unelected legislators
9.40% – declined to give a response

Do you believe there should be an unelected Senate in the government

The Rangsit poll shows that the younger generation heavily favours democratic principles. They generally do not support the current government leaders or system that gives weight to unelected political appointees. Gen Z feels that the suspended PM Prayut, along with the current caretaker Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, do not represent these democratic principles. They would prefer the next leader of Thailand to be more supportive of the more robust democracy in the country.

The results are not surprising as there have been near-constant pro-democracy demonstrations over the last few years. Though they were tamped down by Covid restrictions, protesters still push for a move towards a stronger democracy. So far though, every attempt in Parliament to amend the Constitution that the military put in place with an unelected Senate has been thwarted.

Neill Fronde

Neill is a journalist from the United States with 10+ years broadcasting experience and national news and magazine publications. He graduated with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of California and has been living in Thailand since 2014.