| Country: | Thailand |
| Previous Election: | 2006 |
| Next Election: | 2014 |
| Seats For Election: | 76 of the 150 seats in the Senate |
| Election Date: | 2 March 2008 |
| Nopercentage: | yes |
| Noleader: | yes |
| Party1: | Independents |
| Last Election1: | 200 |
| Seats1: | 76 |
Senate elections were held in Thailand on 2 March 2008, the first under a new constitution. Voter turnout was 56%.[1] Results were expected on 9 March 2008.[2]
76 candidates were elected, one for each province, while 74 senators will be nominated by a selection panel headed by the Constitution Tribunal's president Virat Limvichai. Nominations for these seats were made by professional groups between 13 January and 18 January 2008, whereafter a panel appointed by the Electoral Commission vetted the nominees' credentials before forwarding the nominations to the selection panel.[3] The Thai Election Commission endorsed the 74 senators selected from the nominations.[4] The senators will serve six-year terms.
The nominated senators are considered to be closer to the outgoing military administration,[5] while among the elected senators a substantial number are closely connected to deposed former PM Thaksin. A prominent critic of Thaksin and anti-corruption activist also appeared to have been elected.[6]
On 13 March 2008, the Senate President was elected. The former Appeals Court president Prasopsuk Boondej, a nominated senator, received 78 votes. Thaweesak Khidbanchong, considered to be close to former minister Newin Chidchob, received 45 votes; General Lertrat Ratanawanit, reportedly closely connected to the defunct coup-making Council for National Security received 15 votes, and Police Lieutenant-General Manoj Kraiwong, who had been criticised for having leaned onto the opposition Democrat Party, received six votes.[7]