An election could be held in August next year if the draft constitution is endorsed in a public referendum, says Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.
He said Sunday he based his prediction on the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) roadmap under a scenario in which the draft constitution is approved at a referendum.
If the draft charter is passed by the National Reform Council (NRC) and endorsed in the referendum, which is expected to be held in January, the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) would then draft organic or supplementary laws in February, he said.
The draft organic laws would be sent to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) for deliberation in March and April, and go to the Constitutional Court in May.
After the organic laws are approved by the Constitutional Court, preparations would be made in July or August for a general election, which could be held in August. Election results would be announced 30 days after that, he said.
His Majesty the King would then preside over the opening session of the House of Representatives. A new prime minister and new cabinet members are expected to be in place in October 2016, he said.
Once the new government is in place, the five main "streams" - the government, NCPO, NRC, NLA and CDC - would be dissolved.
"All of what I have said is based on the working calendar. Things will not go as planned if the draft charter does not pass the public referendum," Mr Wissanu said.
The deputy prime minister said the NRC would be dissolved after the referendum, regardless of the result, and replaced by a national reform steering assembly.
The government and NCPO would come to an end after a new cabinet has been sworn in, expected in October.
He said the NLA would stay on to perform the duty of the Senate and would be dissolved when a new Senate is in place. The CDC would continue to perform its duties until the opening of the House, he said.
The national reform steering assembly would also remain in existence until the opening of the House, Mr Wissanu said.
Meanwhile, respondents in a new poll opposed proposed amendments to the 2014 interim charter to allow people banned from politics to be appointed to the NLA or cabinet.
The poll by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) was held last Thursday and Friday among 1,251 people aged 18 and over nationwide to gauge their opinions on the proposed amendments to the 2014 interim constitution.
Asked whether they agree with a proposal for banned politicians who are stripped of their election rights to be appointed to the NLA or the cabinet, 50.4% disagreed, 44% backed the move, and the rest had no comment or were non-committal.
On a call to allow the NCPO and the NLA to each add one more question to the charter referendum, 75.38%, agreed.
