The general election will be held in November next year at the latest now that the date has been set for the promulgation of Thailand's 20th constitution, according to the roadmap set by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
In a schedule announced in the Royal Gazette on Monday, His Majesty the King will promulgate the charter in an elaborate ceremony at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall at 3pm on Thursday, starting the clock ticking to the polls 19 months from that date or no later than Nov 6, 2018.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday the countdown would begin after that date and the roadmap remained the same.
"As far as I know, His Majesty will sign the constitution on April 6 and I will countersign it as prime minister," he said.
According to the roadmap, drafting 10 organic laws takes up to 240 days, enacting them (60 days plus another 30 days to settle differences if other key bodies disagree with the changes), royal consideration (90 days) and preparing for the election (150 days).
Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) chairman Meechai Ruchupan said on Tuesday the CDC already finished drafting two election-related organic laws -- the Election Commission bill and the political party bill -- and would send them to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on April 18.
"The two bills need to be finished first because the constitution adds two members to the EC and the qualifications are not the same so some of the existing commissioners might have to go. If there are fewer than four qualified ones, new members must be screened, which will take time," he said.
The other two election-related organic laws on the source of senators and on MP elections will come later in that order, but no later than 240 days.
"The law on senators must come first because the charter requires the senators be sourced before the election. Since 200 of all 250 of them are to be named by the NCPO, it will have to issue regulations on how they are selected.
On the NCPO chief's power under Section 44 of the interim charter which is retained in the new constitution, Mr Meechai said the new constitution simply endorsed it so certain problems could be solved.
"The power cannot be used in violation of the core principles of the constitution. Nor can it change the new charter itself."
As for the ban on political party activity, Mr Meechai believes it will be eased after the political party bill is enacted. "In any case, they can run their normal operation."
Local elections will take place once the Interior Ministry amends existing laws to comply with the requirements of the new constitution, he said.
Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman of the Prime Minister's Office, said after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday that Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam explained the timeline of the "Five Rivers" at the meeting.
"The cabinet and the NCPO will stop performing duties when an elected government is formed. They will be terminated when the new government is sworn in," he said, quoting Mr Wissanu.
"The NLA will expire 15 days before the general election while the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) will cease to exist when the Act on National Reform Plans and Procedures and the Act on National Strategies come into effect, 120 days after the constitution is promulgated on April 6.
"The CDC will finish 10 organic laws within 240 days after the charter takes effect. They will be dissolved when they complete the task."
The only element that remains until the general election is the power under Section 44 of the interim charter. "The mandate is endorsed by Section 265 of the new constitution," he said.
Laws and orders issued by Section 44 can be repealed only by enacting new laws.
"Members of the cabinet, NCPO, NLA and NRSA who want to run for MPs must resign within 90 days after the new charter comes into effect. The rule applies only to MPs, not senators or cabinet ministers.
"Once the constitution comes into effect, enacting a law will be more complicated and public hearings and opinions of related government agencies must be taken into consideration," Lt Gen Sansern said.
