Meechai insists charter panel on schedule for drafting of organic laws
Constitution Drafting Commission chairman Meechai Ruchupan on Tuesday insisted that he and his colleagues would complete the drafting of 10 organic laws as required by the new constitution by the deadline given – that is, within 240 days of the charter’s promulgation.
However, he was unable to offer clarity on when exactly a general election could be held, saying that this depended on promulgation of the necessary organic laws.
The first four laws, which need to be in place for an election to take place, are the political party law, the Election Commission law, the MPs election law, and the law governing the election of senators.
Meechai said that once these four laws were promulgated, then it would take another 150 days or around five months for an election to be held.
He added that he would submit the first two organic laws – concerning the Election Commission and political parties – to the National Legislative Assembly for deliberation by April 18.
The assembly would then have 60 days to deliberate and endorse them.
He said the drafters would then submit the other two pre-election laws to the NLA, possibly around September.