Wat Tingsamit analyzes crisis of faith in Thailand’s independent agencies

Wat Tingsamit, an independent scholar and former senior Supreme Court judge, has analyzed the crisis of faith regarding Thailand’s independent agencies and its implications for the country’s democracy.

In his analysis, Tingsamit describes these agencies as the ‘Fourth Branch’ of government. While the traditional three branches consist of the legislative, executive, and judicial powers, the fourth branch—comprising independent agencies and the Constitutional Court—is designed to provide checks and balances to prevent ‘elective dictatorship.’

In the Thai context, these bodies were systematically introduced via the 1997 Constitution to combat political corruption. Under the 2017 Constitution, constitutional independent agencies include the Election Commission, the Ombudsman, the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the State Audit Commission, and the National Human Rights Commission. Other significant bodies include the Office of the Attorney General and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.