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Referendum to be held on draft constitution in Thailand

Xinhua, May 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Thai junta, or the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), and the cabinet agreed on Tuesday to amend the 2014 interim constitution so that the new draft charter can be put to a referendum.

This meant a general election, initially expected early next year, could be further postponed.

The charter amendment is expected to be proposed to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) in June, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-Ngam was quoted by the National News Bureau of Thailand as saying.

But it remained to be seen how the National Reform Council (NRC) will decide on the draft charter, Wissanu added.

If the NRC endorses the draft charter, the Election Commission will be in charge of organizing the referendum, but a referendum will not be necessary if the NRC votes down the draft.

Should a referendum be held, the general election will be delayed possibly to August 2016, according to Wissanu.

Earlier in the day, NLA Vice President Surachai Liengboonlertchai said if the NCPO and cabinet agreed on a referendum, the NLA would vote on a proposed amendment to the interim constitution within 15 days of receiving it. Endi