Pheu Thai Party Backs New Constitutional Drafting Assembly

Bangkok: The Pheu Thai Party's referendum communication campaign committee has announced its support for the establishment of a Constitutional Drafting Assembly to draft a new constitution. This move follows the approval of a referendum, which received 19.9 million votes in favor, setting the stage for drafting a new constitutional framework. According to Thai News Agency, the Pheu Thai Referendum Campaign Committee, led by Chairman Mr. Chaturon Chaisang and Deputy Leader Mr. Chusak Sirinil, expressed gratitude to the public for the referendum outcome. They confirmed that the campaign committee's mission had been accomplished with the public's approval paving the way for constitutional reform. Mr. Chaturon emphasized that the Pheu Thai Party has consistently advocated for a new constitution and underscored the importance of public participation in its drafting. The party had initiated a campaign for the referendum on December 19th, submitting policy point number 41 to the Election Commission to reinforce th is principle. With 94% of the votes counted, the referendum showed 19.9 million votes in favor, with projections suggesting the final count will surpass 20 million. He highlighted that the referendum results reflect the public's recognition of existing constitutional issues and the demand for a more democratic framework. Mr. Chaturon urged political entities to collaborate in realizing the people's aspirations for a constitution that genuinely represents them. Mr. Chusak added that legally, the referendum's approval by over 20 million votes obliges Parliament to act, as it had already consulted the public on this matter. He outlined the subsequent steps, which involve submitting the draft constitutional amendment to Parliament. This process will facilitate the formation of a new Constitutional Drafting Assembly to draft the constitution, which will ultimately be subjected to another public referendum. The Pheu Thai Party reaffirmed its dedication to adhering to the public mandate, ensuring that the process aligns with the people's consensus.