Delaying an election for two years to allow reforms to take place should be a decision for the people and could be included in the charter referendum, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday.
Mr Wissanu said several issues could be added to the referendum if it is held, with the latest calls for a two-year election delay being the most prominent.
Mr Wissanu, a strong supporter of the charter referendum, said it was too early to discuss the issue even though some members of the National Reform Council have backed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his government staying in power to push through national reforms.
The proposal has drawn a mixed response.
Mr Wissanu, who oversees legal affairs, said the government is focusing on the referendum which will allow the people to vote on the draft prepared by the Constitution Drafting Committee.
“What the cabinet is concentrating on, and what it believes is worth spending money on, is a referendum to ask the public if they will accept the draft charter. Other questions, if any, are a bonus,” Mr Wissanu said.
“We can ask a lot of questions actually. It doesn’t have to be only about the two-year reform issue. The cabinet has some questions in mind but there shouldn’t be many questions at a referendum. People can get confused.”
Questions about local elections or a new ethics assembly can also be included, he said.
According to Mr Wissanu, the government has no position on the proposal to delay the election for two years to implement national reforms.
“It’s too early for the government to comment on this. Besides, it will appear like we’re siding with [NRC members who proposed the idea].
“I told you it can be done because it can. But whether it should be is another matter,” he said.
Mr Wissanu said details of the referendum will not be included in the interim charter to avoid possible complications.
The government and the National Council for Peace and Order earlier agreed to amend the interim constitution brought in after the coup to pave the way for a referendum on the draft charter.
The deputy prime minister said the cabinet agreed to give the CDC more time to revise the charter draft, but details on how long the extension will be and the conditions have yet to be decided.
He said the extension could be 10, 20 or 30 days.
Under the current time frame, the CDC will submit the final draft to the NRC on Aug 6 for a vote.
Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has urged caution over a referendum vote to allow the interim government to remain in power.
“How can we judge if reforms are achieved? Do we reform the police force? Can we do that in two years? Can we have elections for provincial governors in two years? If we narrow it down like this, the people will get the picture,” Mr Abhisit said.
“But to say ‘reform ahead of elections’, what does it really mean?”
Pheu Thai member Worachai Hema warned Gen Prayut not to “dance to the NRC members’ tune”, saying the idea is unlikely to sit well with the international community and coup critics.
“The prime minister shouldn’t turn those who are looking forward to an election against him. The sentiment against the coup-installed government could intensify,” he said.
Nattawut Saikuar, a core member of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, said another two years would put the government’s and Gen Prayut’s credibility at risk.
“The only legitimate way is to contest elections and announce the reforms as a policy platform,” he said.
Deputy Democrat leader Nipit Intarasombat called on the NRC members led by Paiboon Nititawan who proposed the two-year delay to clarify the extent of the reforms.
He also urged Gen Prayut to tread carefully as he would be tearing up his road-map.