BANGKOK, June 10 (Xinhua) -- A new election management body will ensure more credible election results and political reforms will start fresh, Thailand's main election official said on his personal social media page on Saturday.
"Reforms will always hurt some people," Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, one of Thailand's five election commissioners said after the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) voted on Friday to create a new Election Commission (EC).
The NLA voted overwhelming to disband the current Election Commission. Members voted 161-15 with 12 abstentions to expel all five commission members and replace them with seven new members to be appointed under means yet to be decided.
Somchai said the EC respected the NLA's decision for the benefit of the country.
The five existing election commissioners will remain in office until the new EC is installed by November, according to local media.
The EC, established by the 2007 Constitution, is an independent government agency that oversees government elections and referendums throughout the country.
Those voted against viewed it unfair to current commissioners who were qualified under the 2007 charter, saying that the decision would affect the organization of the upcoming general election.
Those in favor said removing the existing EC members is necessary as the current EC mechanisms cannot get rid of local influence, local media said.
Thailand has passed a new charter in the 2016 referendum. The new charter has been royally endorsed on April 6.
After that, the country's charter drafting body will have to finish drafting 10 laws, four of which will determine the mechanics of a general election that would be potentially held in late 2018.
