Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has welcomed the constitution drafters' decision to reach a compromise with the military regime over its charter proposals.
Mr Wissanu yesterday said that while not all National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) suggestions had been accepted by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), at least the proposal on an appointed Senate, the NCPO's top priority, has been recognised.
The CDC has agreed to the NCPO's proposal for an appointed Senate, with 250 members serving a five-year term during the transition to full democracy. The senators will be chosen by a selection panel set up by the NCPO.
However, the CDC wanted 50 of the 250 members to represent 20 professional groups. Of the candidates presented by the groups, 50 will be picked by the selection panel.
The selection panel will directly pick the other 200 senators, with six seats to be reserved for the chiefs of the armed forces and police who are not currently NCPO members. However, the CDC did not agree with the NCPO's idea to allow senators to hold a censure debate against the government. The appointed Senate will be included in the draft charter's provisional clauses.
"This is similar to the NCPO's proposal. The CDC tried its best. Personally, I can accept it," Mr Wissanu said.
CDC chairman Meechai Ruchupan yesterday said the CDC agreed to tweak the appointed Senate proposal to address the regime's concern over the need to push for reforms. The CDC also wanted to have 50 senators selected via the committee's method to test how the new Senate can be improved, he said.
Mr Meechai said it is still not known if Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will accept the changes.
Meanwhile, Election Commission (EC) member Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said the referendum bill, currently being considered by the National Legislative Assembly, allows for an honest expression of personal views on the draft charter.
Section 62 of the draft law states that whoever publicly spreads false information or content deemed to instigate violence or incite conflicts over the draft charter will face up to one year imprisonment and a maximum fine of 200,000 baht.
"If someone campaigns against the draft charter, arguing it is a ploy for the NCPO to maintain power, they can't be faulted for expressing their personal view," he said.
Sharing knowledge and facts about the charter is also acceptable, Mr Somchai added. Nonetheless, the EC will issue guidelines for those who wish to campaign ahead of the referendum.