Thailand's new senate convenes for first time following controversial selection process

Thailand's new senate has convened for the first time, following a controversial and complicated selection process. This batch of 200 new lawmakers replace the previous 250 senators who were-handpicked by the previous military government. The first order of business was to vote for a new senate speaker and their deputies. Mr Mongkol Surasajja, the former governor of Buriram province received the most votes. The upper chamber of Thailand's parliament is supposed to be independent from political parties, but it's not as straightforward as it seems.