But the military government is by no means sure that things will quite pan out that way.
Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, commissioner in charge of election management, said that after the National Reform Council (NRC) approves the new constitution it would take at least three months to organise and hold a public referendum, most probably in November.
If the charter is approved in the referendum, it would be fowarded to HM the King for endorsement.
After Royal approval, the Election Commission would propose a bill on the elections of MPs and senators in line with the new charter. This process could take at least two months to complete, Mr Somchai said.
The election of House of Representatives MPs could therefore be expected in late April next year, followed by the election of senators two or three months afterwards, he said.
Mr Somchai said the EC was prepared for the three steps – the public referendum and the elections of MPs and senators.
As for the public referendum, the EC would have to ensure that people holding different opinions could make their voices heard, and that people know about the details in the new charter before casting a vote for or against it.
However, Thailand’s current military government is not at all sure that any vote should take place on the charter.
Deputy government spokesman Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd has hinted the government may not hold a referendum on the new charter in order to avoid confrontation among those holding different political views.
He was responding to recent calls from politicians, particularly from the two major parties – Pheu Thai and Democrat – for a referendum to be held to let the public decide if they supported the new charter.
He cited the political conflict that resulted when then-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved the House of Representatives on Dec 9, 2013 and called the Feb 2, 2014 general election.
Maj Gen Sansern said Prime Minister and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) leader Prayut Chan-Ocha will have the final say on whether to hold the referendum, based on the political situation at the time.
He said that at the time the country was mired in conflict between the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee – which launched a nationwide campaign to push for political reform before elections – and the caretaker government – which insisted on going ahead with the polls.
The conflict threatened to get out of hand, prompting the military to step in, Maj Gen Sansern said.
He noted that it is currently difficult for people holding opposing political views to reach consensus on major issues and that confrontation is almost unavoidable as long as political conflicts and social divisions linger on in the country.
The current government does not want to see a repeat of the situation, so the pros and cons of a referendum on the new charter must be weighed carefully, he explained.
National Reform Council (NRC) chairman Thienchay Kiranandana also said yesterday it was too early to discuss the referendum. Priority should be given to the contents of the draft constitution first, he said.
“If a referendum is to be held, it is still unclear whether it will be held on the entire draft charter, or only on certain sections of the document,” Mr Thienchay said.
The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) will forward the first draft of the new charter to the NRC to debate it between Monday and April 25.