The ruling Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party has insisted the coalition draft is likely to be the main frame of reference for amending the charter, while reiterating that changes to the pillar Chapters 1 and 2 will be off-limits.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday chaired a meeting of coalition partners to prepare for the two-day parliamentary debate on Tuesday and on Wednesday over proposed constitutional amendments.
Emerging from the meeting, Mr Anutin said the session was routine coordination ahead of parliament’s debate on three amendment drafts — proposed by the government coalition, the opposition Pheu Thai Party, and the People’s Party (PP).
“Our stance is clear. We will not touch Chapters 1 and 2,” he said, referring to sections on the form of the state and the monarchy.
He expressed hope that the constitutional amendment process would pass all three readings.
“We want to see the amendments advance constructively through parliamentary mechanisms,” he said. Asked about the government’s short tenure and whether it could complete the process, Mr Anutin said, “Even if it isn’t completed, at least we’ve started it and laid the foundation for reform.”
The prime minister also dismissed speculation that the government had lobbied senators for support. “No one has been sounded out. Everything will proceed transparently through parliamentary channels,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Wutthipong Pongsuwan predicted all three amendment drafts — from BJT, Pheu Thai, and the PP — would likely pass the first reading. “From what I’ve seen, most senators want to avoid political complications and will support all drafts moving forward,” he said.