HUA HIN — Constitution writers have wrapped up the final draft, with a promise a general election will be on track to take place in July 2017 as planned.
The only wildcard now is whether it will be endorsed in the referendum, slated for July 7 this year. However, the junta has remained mum as to what happens if people vote no.
But if a yes vote prevails, national polls will be held after the charter takes effect and the four election organic laws drafted.
The final draft will be unveiled to the public on Tuesday.
The process to screen the 50 senators from professional groups will begin 15 days before the general election so the junta can pick all senators in time for parliament to convene so the process of choosing the prime minister will not be disrupted.
"The general election will take place 150 days from the date the draft is endorsed in the referendum," said Norachit Sinhaseni, a spokesman of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).
The writers had been retreating to the resort town of Prachuap Khiri Khan for the final review which ended on Saturday.
"Once the draft is approved in the referendum, the CDC will write the four urgent organic laws governing elections. They are the laws on MP election, senator screening, political parties and the Election Commission," Mr Norachit said.
The CDC will try to speed up the process of writing organic laws so they are finished in six months rather than eight as planned earlier. That way, the junta's roadmap of 6-4-6-4 (six months of drafting the charter, four to prepare for the referendum, six to draft organic laws and four to prepare for the polls) will not be derailed, he said.
"This means the general election will take place in July 2017," Mr Norachit said.
After the new constitution takes effect, the cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will keep doing their duties until a new government is formed.
The National Legislative Assembly will cease its lawmaking duties a day before the national assembly — the House and the Senate — first convenes.
The National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) will continue to do its duties for one year unless specified otherwise in the reforms law.
Independent organisations will continue to do their jobs unless changes are made to their respective laws.
The CDC will write the four organics laws on elections and the other seven laws within eight months.
In the National Reforms chapter of the draft charter (Sections 257-161), reforms will cover seven areas: politics, administration, legislation, judiciary, education, economy and others.
The three goals of reforms are: to maintain peace, order and unity; to create a peaceful society and narrow gaps; and to allow people to take part in country development and democracy.
"The NRSA and the NLA are required constitutionally to concretely push reforms by ensuring a law on reform plans and procedures must be enacted within 120 days from the date the charter takes effect.
"This is to ensure reforms must begin within one year and achieve targets within five years," Mr Norachit said.
On reforms, the focus is on judicial processes, especially for police.
"A committee will be set up by the cabinet comprising equal numbers of experts who are former policemen and those who aren't. It will improve the laws on the duties, powers and missions of police, as well as personnel management, appropriate compensation and fair treatments. The laws must be completed in one year," Mr Norachit said.
On education, a cabinet-appointed independent committee is required to be set up 60 days after the charter takes effect to make suggestions and draft laws so reforms are achieved within two years, he added.
Meechai Ruchupan said the draft was now 99% ready. Its goals are to eliminate inequality and solve the country's perennial problems, especially those involving the judicial system and police.
"We are very specific and have set clear timetables. For instance, the charter requires that the laws on environmental impacts must be revised and finished within one year. Chiefs of the agencies which fail to meet the timetables shall be transferred.
"We're tough not only on corruption, but also on state officials," Mr Meechai added.
