BANGKOK, 17 September 2015 – One of the deputy prime ministers has taken the opportunity to speak directly to international diplomats after the National Reform Council voted down the draft Constitution.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, was joined on Wednesday by Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, in hosting a special session in which diplomats from various countries and representatives of international organisations were invited to hear an update on the government’s revised duration planned for the national reform road map and related political process.
Mr. Wissanu said that the National Council for Peace and Order’s reform’s road map will continue to be followed just as it has been designed, while stressing that the government and the NCPO will need to complete the reform process and pass a number of laws for a better political foundation in Thailand before an election takes place in 2018 at the latest.
He added that the Prime Minister will select a new team of charter drafters before the end of September while their official appointment will be made after the PM returns from his visit to the UN Assembly.
The DPM went on to assure his guests that the entire process, including the drafting of organic laws, should take 16 to 18 months, while confirming that a public referendum on the new draft charter, will still be held for the sake of the democratic principle.
