In Thailand, prime minister appoints committee to review possible constitutional amendments

Thailand's prime minister launched [on 3 October] a committee to look at amending the military-drafted constitution, but ruled out any changes to contentious sections related to the monarchy. Srettha's Pheu Thai party had pledged to hold a referendum on changing the constitution, telling voters it had been used to extend the rule of the then-junta. On [3 October], Premier Srettha Thavisin appointed a 35-member committee to conduct a feasibility study on holding a referendum to amend the constitution. "We have a timeframe of three to four months, or at least before the new year, for a conclusion on the referendum," Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said. The committee will contain representatives from the government and opposition, as well as academics, political activists and legal experts, he told a press conference. Phumtham said the process could take more than three years, but that it would be open to public discussion. He said the cabinet will approve and submit the committee's recommendations to the Election Commission before a referendum. But the new charter will not change anything related to the monarchy.
Read the full article here: The Jakarta Post