THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Drafting commission chairman relieved new charter finally promulgated

Drafting commission chairman relieved new charter finally promulgated

After almost a year and a half of work making Thailand’s most recent charter a reality, the chairman of the Constitution Drafting Commission, Meechai Ruchuphan, on Friday expressed huge relief that the 2017 charter had been promulgated the day before.

“We’re all happy about the results,” Meechai said. “Some people are not really happy with us but that’s OK."
Nicknamed by its supporters as the “corruption destroyer”, the charter was approved during last August’s nationwide referendum and introduced stronger graft-combating mechanisms.
However, skeptics were concerned by the constitution’s limited mentions of civil and community rights, the complex, first-of-its-kind electoral system that could pave the way for an unelected prime minister, and allowing the currently ruling junta to hand-pick the whole Senate.
Meechai, having navigating the drafting of the charter since October 2015, is now left with the task of drafting organic laws it demands. According to the new charter, 10 organic laws essential to organising general elections must be enacted within 240 days after the promulgation.
Priorities are the first four organic laws on the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Election Commission and political parties. Once these laws are implemented, the charter says, the general election must be held within 150 days.
“We have to finish those laws by the deadline,” he said. “They’re another burden that we have to sort out in time.”
In recognition of the Thai New Year festival next week, the CDC on Friday held a water blessing ceremony to extend good wishes to Meechai. After the ceremony, the chairman thanked media for following the whole drafting process.
“The media did not carp at us at all. Instead, they were poking us, making us more cautious. This made us feel that we were not alone,” he said. “I can say that media took part in drafting this charter."

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