The first meeting on political reform tentatively set for Aug 16 could be postponed because it is still uncertain whether the House budget debate will be extended into Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkancha said on Tuesday.
Mr Phongthep was speaking after he and PM's Officer Minister Varathep Rattanakorn called on former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh at his residence in Nonthaburi to formally extend an invitation for him to join the talks on political reform.
He said Gen Chavalit had accepted the invitation and offered useful opinions and suggestions.
Mr Phongthep said he and Mr Varathep would try to complete their assignment of issuing invitations this week.
However, the first politcal reform meeting, tentatively scheduled for Friday, might be postponed because it was uncertain whether the House deliberation of the 2014 Budget Bill would drag on into Friday.
On concerns raised by many people that recommendations for political reform made by an assembly to be set up might not be taken up for concrete implementation - in the same way the report of the Truth for Reconciliation Commission had been shelved - Mr Phonghep said this government was committed to the policy and principle of achieving reconciliation.
Therefore, when all involved in the forum reached a common ground for reconciliation, the government would certainly put it into practice, he added.
Asked about a suggestion by Ukrit Mongkolnavin, chairman of the Independent National Rule of Law Commission, for the setting up of a "council of seniors" chaired by Privy Council chairman Prem Tinsulanonda, Mr Phongthep said it could be raised for discussion at the political reform assembly.
Sonthaya Khunploem, the culture minister and leader of the Palang Chon Party, said his party agrees with the government's move and he has accepted the invitation to join the forum.
Nattawut Saikuar, the deputy commerce minister and a leading member of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said the government should go ahead and beginthe political reform effort without having to wait for the Democrat Party, which had refused to accepted an invitation from the beginning.
He said the UDD had not been approached. If invited, the UDD would be glad to participate.