The final version of the next government policy manifesto, which combines the election pledges of all coalition parties, including a proposed charter amendment, will be presented to the prime minister next week, Palang Pracharath (PPRP) secretary-general Sontirat Sontijirawong says.
Mr Sontirat said the next government's policies have been drafted and are currently being vetted by coalition parties to determine whether they comply with the campaign promises they made before the election.
His remarks came as the Democrat Party, a key coalition partner, presses for its election campaign pledge on constitutional amendments to be incorporated into government policy and called on the government to bring the opposition and Senate on board.
Speaking after discussing policy with coalition parties, Democrat secretary-general Chalermchai Sri-on said the party has argued why the charter rewrite is necessary and should be combined into the policy manifesto to be set before the House of Representatives.
Among the first issues to "unlock" are strict conditions and requirements, which make charter amendment attempts extremely difficult, he said.
Mr Chalermchai pointed out that the government alone cannot ensure that the charter rewrite bid will succeed and it needs to lobby opposition parties and the regime-appointed Senate to join hands.
He appeared hopeful that the move might receive Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's blessing even though he never got a chance to bring the issue before the premier.
"From what I heard from media interviews, he didn't reject calls for charter amendments and suggested that they should be brought up for discussion when the time was right and that everyone should come on board," he said.
Meanwhile, former Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday urged all sides to step up the push for charter amendments.
"If the charter cannot be amended, this charter won't be the country's last. We need to apply pressure on those in power and make them see and let go of some powers so the country can move ahead," he said.
Mr Sontirat, meanwhile, said policies put before parliament will strictly comply with financial and fiscal discipline and not impose a burden on the state budget.
He insisted that before any issue, including charter change, can be made policy a consensus must be reached by coalition allies.
"As we are a multi-party coalition government, all parties must sit down for talks and find ways to tweak our policies to achieve a harmonious blend," Mr Sontirat said.
Mr Sontirat said the PPRP as the main party will spend the next two or three days doing so.
"I believe that by next week we will be able to present the final draft to the prime minister to have a last look," he said.
Mr Sontirat said among the PPRP's campaign promises to be put up for discussion are the welfare smart card scheme for low-income earners, debt suspension for farmers and welfare benefits for mothers-to-be.