Politicians from the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties have stepped up calls for a referendum to be held on the draft charter, saying a referendum will give the new charter "immunity" from resistance.
Former Pheu Thai MP for Samut Prakan, Worachai Hema, said Sunday the government should hold a referendum to allow the public to decide whether to accept the draft charter drawn up by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).
If the public rejects the draft in the referendum, they should be allowed to choose which one — between the previous charters of 1997 and 2007 — they want as the new constitution, Mr Worachai said.
He also suggested the new charter should be temporary until a new government is formed following the next election.
Then, the new government should set up a new constitution drafting committee to draw up a new permanent charter, he said.
Mr Worachai said the CDC's draft charter is plagued with flaws that need to be amended such as a provision to allow the appointment of a non-elected prime minister, which could raise suspicions the draft might pave the way for those in power to prolong their grip on the country.
If the draft is not amended to address these flaws, it will lead to fresh rounds of conflict and it will face resistance from the public, Mr Worachai said.
Deputy Democrat Party leader Ong-art Klampaibul said the public should be given the mandate to decide the fate of the draft charter in a referendum.
Endorsement from the public will provide the new charter with immunity from any future resistance from its opponents, Mr Ong-art said.
He said the constitution drafters have good intentions, but they are still reluctant to listen to others.
Mr Ong-art said the drafters should be more open to suggestions from all sides, and they must show there is no hidden agenda behind the draft charter.
Previously, National Legislative Assembly (NLA) president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai said the interim charter will need to be amended if a referendum is to be held.
Mr Pornpetch cited Section 46 of the interim charter which opens the way for a process to amend the interim charter to allow a referendum. The section allows the cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order to jointly propose any necessary amendments and forward changes to the NLA for endorsement.
National Reform Council member Direk Thuengfang, also deputy chairman of the NRC panel on political reform, said the panel will propose amendments to the draft charter provisions on the mixed member proportional representation system, the indirect Senate election and the appointment of the non-MP prime minister.
The panel will meet on Wednesday to discuss the proposed changes. The proposals are expected to be wrapped up in two weeks before being submitted to the CDC, Mr Direk said.