The first referendum on a new constitution for Thailand is expected to be held during the first quarter of next year, after the formation of a 35-member ad hoc panel tasked with studying how the Constitution should be amended or rewritten and how many referenda will be needed, said Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai today (Tuesday).
Phumtham, who was tasked with recruiting knowledgeable people from various disciplines to form the panel, said that he has scheduled the first meeting, to be chaired by himself, on October 10th.
He said that he has tried to bring all stakeholder voices onto the panel, including academics, student representatives, members of the business and agricultural sectors, the mass media and the opposition, among others, adding that the Move Forward party is yet to confirm whether it wants to join.
He said that the panel will decide how the Constitution is to be amended, or rewritten in its entirety, with the exception of Chapter 1, regarding the territorial integrity of Thailand and the democratic system with the King as head of state, and Chapter 2 regarding the monarchy, and whether it is necessary to have a people’s assembly to write a completely new charter.
Asked why Chapters 1 and 2 are to be left intact, Phumtham said the two chapters are sensitive and any attempt to modify them could result in political conflict.
The panel will also decide how many referenda are to be held, said Phumtham, adding that he prefers as few as possible, to save costs, estimated at about 5 billion baht for each one.
Another key issue for the panel is what questions are to be asked in the first referendum.
