Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam Thursday denied the government was considering amending the interim charter to extend the National Reform Council's (NRC) tenure if it votes against a draft constitution.
Mr Wissanu said the government is preparing a change to the interim charter to allow for a possible referendum on the draft constitution and he has heard nothing about extending the NRC's term.
Under the interim charter, the NRC and the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) will be dissolved if the final draft of the charter is turned down by the NRC. The drafting process would then return to square one, and no members of either body could be reappointed.
"I helped draft the interim charter and never heard of that proposal. And I have no idea if it is being discussed as part of proposed amendments to the interim charter," he said.
The deputy prime minister also said today's special cabinet meeting is focused on economic issues, not amendments to the interim charter.
Reports have emerged in recent days about the possibility of NRC members trying to amend the interim constitution so they can remain in office should they reject the draft charter.
Meanwhile, CDC spokesman Kamnoon Sidhisamarn said yesterday changes to the electoral system and make-up of the Senate top the list of charter recommendations submitted to the panel.
Under the draft charter, the Senate consists of no more than 200 members, with each province having one indirectly-elected member, while the remaining members are to be selected from pools of candidates nominated by ex-politicians and former high-ranking state officials.
The format has come under fire from several quarters for being too complex.
Mr Kamnoon said the CDC is sorting the charter recommendations into groups.
The NRC's panels on political and legal and justice reforms have come up with more than 330 proposals altogether. The CDC will spend from Wednesday until June 6 listening to all the proposals, he said.
Surachai Liangboonlertchai, vice-president of the National Legislative Assembly, said yesterday the assembly has submitted 24 proposals on the draft charter to the CDC for consideration.
Among them are the proposed deletion of sections 181 and 182, which give too much power to the executive branch.
