Thailand will enter a new era of major changes after the promulgation of the new constitution which will bound future governments to follow the national reform plans, a member of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) says.
Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, an NRSA member, however, admitted that the new charter would probably lead to major upheaval in the beginning, especially in the first year after the charter is promulgated.
But mechanisms dealing with any such turbulence will also ensure the national reform that will be put in place by the 20th constitution will begin to run its course, Mr Kamnoon said. He was speaking at a seminar on the new constitution organised by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) yesterday.
The new constitution, he said, is the first of its kind to require all future governments to continue reforming the country as stipulated in the charter.
And that will make national reform not something a political party may promise to do simply to woo votes but a mandate for every government to implement continuously, he said.
An Act to facilitate national reform procedures is expected to be passed as the first organic law under the new charter, he said, adding that it is required that this law be completed within 120 days after the promulgation of the charter.
Organisations responsible for implementing national reforms will then take over the reform powers from the NRSA, he said.
Every three months, the cabinet will be required to report on the progress of the national reform efforts to parliament, he said.
Another law that will deal with 20-year national strategies will also be required to be completed within a period of 120 days after the promulgation of the charter.
This will ensure that the so-called national strategies will be put in place in slightly over a year's time after the charter is promulgated, he said.
"Unlike those of any other previous constitution, the provisions of this charter are expected to also lead to radical changes," he said.
Under these provisions, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will maintain its power allowed under the interim 2014 constitution during a transition period even after the promulgation of the new charter, he said.
This means the NCPO will also be able to exercise its special power under Section 44 of the interim charter as it is doing currently, he said.
The fact that six out of the 250 senatorial seats will be reserved for the military's top brass is another thing that has not happened before, he said.
"I believe upheaval will be imminent due to a [political] game that has been embedded into the constitution as never before," Mr Kamnoon said.
It is also uncertain whether the Election Commission will exist after the promulgation of the new charter because much higher qualifications of commission members are set for its new selection, he said.
As such, it will consequently be uncertain whether the previously set period for the new general election -- some time between late next year and early 2018 -- will still be the same, he said.