A committee will be set up to amend the new constitution, which has already been endorsed by referendum, on the lines advised by His Majesty the King, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Wednesday.
He said the changes would be in line with His Majety's wishes for alterations to some provisions in the chapter on the monarchy.
To start with, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) would meet on Friday, Jan 13, to pass amendments to the 2014 interim charter in three readings to allow for the amendments to the provisions on the monarchy in the new charter.
After that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha would ask for the return of the new charter, which has yet to receive royal endorsement, from His Majesty within 30 days.
A panel would then be set up immediately to draft the amendments to the provisions on the monarchy in line with His Majesty's wishes.
Mr Wissanu said the panel would comprise eight to 10 members well versed on the issue.
He then named 10 probable members: himself, Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Meechai Ruchupan, CDC deputy chairman Apichart Sukhagghanond, CDC member Achaporn Charuchinda, NLA president Pornpetch Wichitcholachai, former CDC chairman Bowornsak Uwanno, former cabnet secretary-general Ampon Kitti-ampon, Supreme Court president Veerapol Tangsuwan, Attorney General Pongniwat Yuthaphanborikan, and Council of State secretary-general Disthat Hotrakit.
Asked whether other sections would also be amended, Mr Wissanu said some related provisions in other chapters might have to be altered, but the provisions on rights and liberties of the people, state policy, the cabinet, courts, elections, political parties, MPs and senators would definitely not be touched.
The provisions on the monarchy to be amended might have received no attention during the referendum process as they were simply copied from the previous constitutions. However, the kingdom had gone through many changes and they needed to be amended to meet the new conditions, Mr Wissanu said.
Mr Wissanu said the new charter must be amended and returned to His Majesty the King in 30 days, and the King would have 90 days to endorse it.
After receiving royal approval of the new charter, the CDC would finish the draft organic laws within 240 days, before sending them to the NLA for deliberation, which should be completed in 60 days. After the royal endorsement of the organic laws, which should come in 90 days of their being approved by the NLA, a general election would be called in 150 days.
Mr Wissanu said he could not say whether the election would be held late this year. Even the prime minister would say only that the roadmap was still in place, he added.
