Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has stressed the need to set up a national reform steering assembly, saying the body will have legal authority to implement national reforms.
Gen Prayut explained the necessity for the establishment of the body which will replace the National Reform Committee (NRC).
The cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) have approved seven amendments to the 2014 interim charter. One of the proposed changes is that after the NRC votes on the draft charter, the council will be dissolved regardless of whether the council approves the draft or not.
A national reform steering assembly will then be set up with 200 members appointed by the prime minister to give advice on reforms.
"The NRC has been in chaos," Gen Prayut said. "They come from various groups, from all political colours. But I thought they could help steer the country forward."
He also brushed aside concern that the government may stay on in office and prolong its hold on power.
"Don’t worry. Just let me know if you don’t want me to stay on," he said.
The prime minister also dismissed speculation that a cabinet reshuffle was on the cards to pave the way for Somkid Jatusripitak, an economic adviser to the NCPO, to become a cabinet minister handling economic affairs.
Mr Somkid was unable to join the cabinet because of his political ban, but the seven amendments to the interim charter would lift the ban and give banned politicians the opportunity to work with the current administration through a possible cabinet reshuffle.
Mr Somkid was banned from politics in 2007 for his role as one of the 111 former executives of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party.
Gen Prayut said the government and the NCPO have worked together as a team, adding that he has sought advice on the economy from both Mr Somkid and Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyahtorn Devakula.
"Can only one person handle the country’s economy? I have talked to both of them," he said. "I may not be good at economic issues, but I have clever people working with me."
The National Reform Council has been split over whether to vote for or against the Constitution Drafting Committee's (CDC) final version of the draft.
NRC member Wanchai Sornsiri said yesterday he believed many NRC members will vote against the draft charter. He said NRC members have proposed changes and would be unhappy if the CDC rejects them.