NRC’s Direk: 3 months’ delay of election is acceptable if public referendum is held

BANGKOK, 15 May 2015 (NNT) - A member of the National Reform Council has suggested that it is acceptable if Thailand will have to wait three months for the next election because of a public referendum on the new charter.

NRC’s member Direk Teungfung said that he agrees with the Constitution Drafting Committee’s resolution to ask the Prime Minister and the National Council for Peace and Order to organise a public referendum on the draft charter.

Mr. Direk said that a charter drafting process is needed to confirm that the new Constitution is approved by the people.

He added that a delay of the next general election to the middle or the end of 2016 is acceptable for a public referendum to really take place, as that will still be in line with the people’s expectation and within the NCPO’s roadmap.

Meanwhile, Mr. Direk disagrees with the suggestion by charter drafting committee member Paiboon Nititawan that the next poll should be delayed by at least two years because such a great delay could bring about many more problems, both politically and economically.

-- NNT 2015-05-15

They all forget its not what they think its what mr p wants

Since the 2007 Constitution the Election Commission had the responsibility to prepare national elections within 60 days. There is no reason that it cannot prepare a referendum by the end of 2015. In fact if Prayut was really serious about supporting a referendum, he can simply order a referendum at any time within 60 days of HIS order under Article 44.

Of course that might hasten his loss of absolute power until the next coup.