Respected jurist Meechai Ruchupan will say next week if he is willing to head a new constitution drafting committee, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Thursday.
Meechai Ruchupan
The deputy premier confirmed he had invited Mr Meechai to chair the new drafting committee.
Mr Meechai had replied he would like to consider the matter while Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is visiting the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly from Sept 23 to Oct 1.
Mr Wissanu said Mr Meechai told him he had health problems and would not like to catch up in any confusion. Mr Meechai is also a member of the coup-making National Council for Peace and Order of Prime Minister Prayut.
If Mr Meechai decides to reject the approach, Mr Wissanu said, he had another senior candidate in mind to lead the drafting panel.
He also said that he approached more than 20 people to serve on the panel. Some had said they would wait until they knew who would head the committee before giving their reply.
The drating of a second new constitution follows the National Reform Council's vote to reject the first draft on Sept 6, after which the council was dissolved. The rejection means a further delay until the next general election, which is now expected in about 20 months.
