Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said on Wednesday it is impossible to draw up the kind of constitution that will ensure the May 22 coup is the last the country suffers.
According to Mr Prawit, military leaders do not have political ambitions but will have to intervene if the country again descends into a political crisis, as National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief Prayut Chan-o-cha did last year.
Though coups may be unavoidable, the government can draft a constitution for peace and stability to create a sound base for democracy to be built on, he said, adding the NCPO does not plan to prolong its stay in power and the roadmap to democracy remains unchanged.
"We haven't postponed the roadmap. The prime minister is trying to improve the public's understanding of the government's work while laying the foundation for democratic rule," he said.
Pheu Thai member Samart Kaewmeechai yesterday accused Gen Prawit of making comments that undermine democratic rule.
Thailand is unlikely to pull itself out of the vicious cycle if senior and highly-respected military leaders and decision-makers harbour this line of thinking, he said.
Meanwhile, Gen Prayut assured 12 visiting UN diplomats from New York that Thailand is on the path to reform, and democratic rule, with general elections planned for late next year, said deputy government spokesman Maj Gen Weerachon Sukhonthapatipak.
Gen Prayut informed the delegation of the possible delay in elections if a charter referendum is held, but said they would not be held later than September next year.
The interim government would not interfere in the elections, and the NCPO has no intention of staying in power any longer than it deems necessary, Maj Gen Weerachon said.
Gen Prayut also told the envoys his administration is helping to build democracy by establishing a system of checks and balances in the government, strengthening people's power and promoting good governance.
The diplomats were invited to Thailand as part of the Foreign Ministry's "Friends of Thailand" campaign to woo support from the international community.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday the Constitution Drafting Committee should be given an additional 30 days to consider proposed amendments to the draft charter.
