TANGLED PATH
Aug 22, 2023
Pheu Thai Party candidate Srettha Thavisin elected as the country's 30th prime minister. Rewriting the charter was one of the priority issues of the Pheu Thai-led government.
Sept 13, 2023
A panel to study the design of a referendum to be held on amending the charter is appointed at the first cabinet meeting.
Oct 3, 2023
The 35-member committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai is unveiled.
Oct 16, 2023
Two sub-committees are set up: one responsible for gathering public input on the referendum and the other for drawing up guidelines for the referendum.
Dec 25, 2023
The study wraps up with a recommendation that three rounds of charter referenda would be organised in the charter rewrite process.
Jan 18, 2024
A charter amendment bill sponsored by Pheu Thai is tabled before parliament.
Feb 9, 2024
The parliament secretariat office decides not to place the bill on the agenda. The bill would lead to the drafting of a new charter, so a referendum would be necessary before proceeding with the bill.
March 29, 2024
The House of Representatives votes 233:103 to ask the Constitutional Court to rule if parliament should proceed with the bill or if a referendum was required first.
April 17, 2024
The court unanimously rejects the petition, saying it has already ruled on the matter and this issue had nothing to do with parliament’s scope of power.
April 23, 2024
The cabinet agrees in principle that three rounds of charter referenda will be held. The public will be asked in the first round, tentatively scheduled to be held this year, if they agree with the charter rewrite, except for Chapters 1&2.