Green light for charter referendums
3 votes to decide on latest blueprint
The cabinet has agreed in principle that three referendums about adopting a new charter will be completed before the current government’s term ends.
Emerging from the weekly cabinet meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the cabinet gave the nod to the three-referendum proposal by the governmentappointed referendum study panel headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
The first referendum will ask voters whether they agree with writing a new charter. If the majority agrees, the second referendum will ask if Section 256 should be amended to allow for the draft of a new charter.
Once a new charter is produced, the government will hold a third referendum, asking voters to decide whether it should be adopted.
The cabinet also agreed that the Referendum Act 2021 should be amended to abolish the “double majority” rule, which requires more than 50% of eligible voters to participate in a referendum and a majority of those voting to approve the new charter, according to the premier.
Amending the act would be instrumental in promoting democracy, he added.
Meanwhile, Chartthaipattana Party list MP Nikorn Chamnong said the cabinet meeting was briefed on how the three referendums will be conducted and what they involve.
Mr Nikorn heads the subcommittee that gathers opinions on the proposal to rewrite the whole 2017 charter, which works under the Phumtham panel.
He explained that the central question to be asked in the first referendum is whether voters support charter amendments except Chapters 1 and 2.
Chapter 1 defines Thailand as a single, indivisible kingdom with a democratic regime and the King as head of state, while Chapter 2 stipulates sections about royal prerogatives.
The permanent secretariat office under the Prime Minister’s Office will coordinate with the Election Commission to work out practical steps for organising the referendum. Mr Nikorn said he expected the first referendum to take place either at the end of July or early August and cost around 3.2 billion baht. He added that Mr Phumtham believed the Referendum Act amendment would successfully ease the double-majority rule.
Mr Nikorn said he had total confidence the three referendums and the entire process associated with getting the new charter up and running would be completed before the government leaves office in less than four years from now.