Thailand’s draft constitution will be sent for royal approval on 9 November. The King will have 90 days to revise it before approval. 

 

On 1 November 2016, junta leader Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha announced that the deadline for Thailand’s draft constitution to be ready for the King to sign is 9 November. After that, the King will have another 90 days to consider the draft before giving his final approval, reported Matichon Online.

 

However, Prayut emphasised that the Constitutional Court will maintain the power to amend the preamble to the charter even after the King’s signature due to the uncertain period of transition the country faces. Such changing conditions mean the King’s approval must also be liable to change.

 

Prayut noted, however, that the Court is unlikely to amend key parts of the charter. He advised the public that there is no need to worry. 

 

On 26 October, the Constitutional Court ordered the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), appointed by the junta, to amend the preamble of the draft to fit the changing context after the late King’s death.

 

“The draft charter is problematic in its preamble. We wrote it in a certain reign. Now the reign has been changed.” Meechai Ruchuphan, Chairman of CDC, stated on 17 October.