BANGKOK, 28 April 2015 – The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has affirmed that the National Reform Council (NRC) will vote to approve of the draft charter on August 6. However, the current military regime may need to extend its tenure in the event of a public referendum.
CDC Chairman Prof. Borwornsak Uwanno revealed that the committee will submit the revised draft charter to the NRC by July 23. The reform body is scheduled to vote on August 6 whether it approves of the new constitution.
If the new constitution is approved, then it will be submitted for royal approval by September 4. An election would be held between February and March the following year.
If the new constitution is rejected, the whole drafting process must be restarted, extending the tenure of the current administration and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
In order to hold a public referendum, the Cabinet and NCPO must give the National Legislative Assembly permission to amend the current interim constitution to include a public referendum on the draft charter.
This move would result in the election being postponed until May the following year, thereby also extending the regime’s tenure.
