CDA favours charter referendum

CDA favours charter referendum

Charter drafters have thrown their support behind holding a referendum on a new constitution once it is drawn up, spokesman Lertrat Rattanawanich said on Saturday.

Gen Lertrat said Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) members were behind chairman Bowornsak Uwanno who had raised the idea of organising a referendum.

The referendum would give added legitimacy to the new constitution through a public participation, he added.

But the assembly will not formalise a position on the issue and will leave the decision to Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Gen Lertrat Rattanawanich: Let PM decide on a charter referendum.

The CDA plans to work on a new look for the charter next week after the National Reform Council (NRC) hands over all of its proposals to the panel.

One of more contentious proposals from the NRC is for the direct election of the prime minister and cabinet members. The idea was floated by the NRC committee on political reform led by Sombat Thamrongthayawong. However, it has drawn criticism from many quarters because it is seen as eroding the role of parliament and giving the government leader too much control.

Gen Lertrat indicated that the CDA was also cool to the idea, saying many writers could see no guarantee that the new formula would resolve political problems.

The CDA has until April to finish the first draft of a new constitution and forward it for comments and changes to the cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order, also chaired by the prime minister.

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