The charter amendment process is now in motion, but many are questioning if it will truly be about serving the public interest, or whether it is a strategy by the Pheu Thai-led government to cling to power.
The proposal to revise the military-sponsored 2017 Constitution, which was one of the ruling party’s election pledges, is listed as a priority issue for the coalition government.
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, a Pheu Thai veteran, is tasked with leading a government-appointed panel to study designing a referendum on charter amendment.
The referendum is a thorny issue thanks to a 2021 Constitutional Court ruling that the public must approve any move to amend the entire charter. If a rewrite is approved, another referendum must be held to approve the content.
Mr Phumtham’s panel recently approved a proposal to hold three referendums for…
