Bangkok: Pheu Thai is gearing up to submit a draft amendment to the constitution on September 25. The party has been criticized for its draft not being closely linked to the people, a claim it has contested by questioning the connection of the People’s Party draft to the populace.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Danupon Punnakanta, a Pheu Thai Party MP and spokesperson, disclosed the progress in the constitutional amendment process. He stated that the party has finalized the draft and plans to have its MPs sign it on September 24, before submitting it to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on September 25.

The Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) will consist of 151 members. Initially, 100 members will be selected from a pool of 300 nationwide. The remaining 51 members will be nominated by the House of Representatives, the Cabinet, the Senate, and various associations, completing the assembly. Once established, a drafting committee of 27 members will be formed, comprising 14 members from the CDA and 13 from legal and political science experts.

The finalized draft will then be presented to Parliament for approval and subsequently put to a referendum.

In response to the People’s Party’s criticism, Mr. Danupon remarked that he had not reviewed the People’s Draft Act to assess its connection to the populace compared to Pheu Thai’s draft. He acknowledged the existence of three drafts, from Bhumjaithai Party, People’s Party, and Pheu Thai. He emphasized that Pheu Thai’s Constituent Assembly, beginning with 300 members from across the country, is inherently connected to the people. He invited the People’s Party to propose enhancements for greater connectivity and expressed a desire to examine their draft for comparison.