Wissanu denies wanting to dissolve, reregister parties

“Others may want that but I did not say that, nor did I make a leading comment to test the waters,” he said. 

Wissanu also ruled out the possibility of an 11-month road map to democracy following a 3-3-3-2 formula as presented by Pheu Thai Party leader Chaturon Chaisang, who was education minister under the last government. According to the formula, three months would be spent writing a new charter, three months on a public referendum, three months to write supplementary laws and two months on election campaigns. 

Wissanu’s formula on the other hand is 6-4-6-4. The deputy PM said Chaturon’s method barely allows enough time for the charter drafters to write organic laws. Even though old constitutions such as those written in 1997, 2007 or the last charter draft could be used as models, they would still need to be revamped. 

Also, he said, political parties would have problems if they are given just two months to campaign for votes, especially if the new election laws carry some “bizarre” content. 

“Once there are new political party laws, the old ones will be automatically cancelled. Old political parties will have to be registered and maybe even find new party members. If you give them just two months, old parties would be at an advantage, while new parties would be disadvantaged. This is why we want at least four months,” he said.