Bangkok: Editor-in-Chief of Lailajud and iLaw questioned Prime Minister Saengkhawat regarding political parties and politicians making statements about their stance on the referendum and the expenses tied to campaigning. The Prime Minister clarified that campaign funds could be utilized pending written confirmation. However, he refrained from commenting on reforms to the Election Commission, suggesting that if the reforms are considered beneficial, they should be pursued.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Sombat Boonngam-anong, editor of Lailajud, and Mr. Yingcheep Atchanon from iLaw met with Mr. Saweang Boonmee, Secretary-General of the Election Commission, to seek clarification on campaign expenses for election and referendum campaigns and whether political parties can campaign for or against the drafting of the new constitution. Reporters noted that Mr. Sombat and Mr. Yingcheep listened to Mr. Saeng's media interview on related issues and questioned the Secretary-General's statements about political influence on the constitutional drafting process.

Mr. Sombat expressed public confusion over Mr. Saeng's statements, leading to hesitance among political parties in their campaigns. He requested the Election Commission's Secretary-General to apologize or reassure political parties about expressing their stance on the new constitution. Mr. Saeng affirmed that it was possible, although he resisted providing a written confirmation.

Further, Mr. Sombat inquired about categorizing referendum campaign expenses, proposing a special category for detailed reporting. Mr. Saeng assured that political parties' staff are equipped to manage expenses, adhering to relevant laws. He emphasized the importance of careful content management, as opposition parties might exploit any missteps.

Reporters informed Mr. Sombat of pending questions for the Election Commission's Secretary, requesting media priority. Mr. Saeng invited Mr. Sombat and Mr. Yingcheep for further discussions in his office. In the subsequent interview, Mr. Saeng declined to express opinions on Election Commission reform, deferring to proponents' judgment.

Mr. Yingcheep later addressed issues with referendum registration, citing system changes that initially allowed cross-district voting within provinces. He advocated for affected individuals' voting rights. Mr. Sombat's concerns on referendum-related expenses were confirmed by Mr. Saeng, who promised a formal letter clarifying permissible campaign activities and expense categorization.

Mr. Yingcheep highlighted that political rallies for the referendum are not constrained by campaign expense limits, but discussions must exclude explicit campaign topics. Awaiting the official clarification letter, he noted the need for clear communication from Mr. Saeng to resolve uncertainties.