Bangkok: Mr. Peerapan Salirathavipak, leader of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party and the party's prime ministerial candidate, has announced the National Reform Council's stance against drafting a new constitution. Alongside fellow prime ministerial candidates, Mr. Atthawich Suwannabhakdi and Mr. Narapat Kaewthong, the party highlighted their concerns after deliberating on the proposed referendum for a new constitution.

According to Thai News Agency, the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party firmly opposes the idea of a new constitution, labeling the referendum proposal as a "blank check" that lacks a clear framework. The party argues that this approach disregards the 2017 Constitution's provision for amending individual articles. They assert that while they support amendments on a clause-by-clause basis, they are against completely discarding the existing constitution without a defined structure. The party also expressed concern over the lack of guarantees that Chapters 1 and 2 will remain unaffected in a new draft, emphasizing the absence of inherent flaws in the 2017 Constitution.

Mr. Peerapan further criticized the government's claim that the referendum aligns with the Constitutional Court's ruling. He argued that the first and second referendums could be conducted simultaneously and that the government is not prohibited from sharing the amendment framework with the public. He distinguished between amending and revoking the constitution, warning of potential repercussions such as restoring rights to those disqualified under the current constitution. The party fears that endorsing a new constitution might undermine the anti-corruption stance of the 2017 Constitution.

Mr. Atthawich underscored that while the 2017 Constitution is amendable, it should not be discarded entirely. He noted that the King's powers extend beyond Chapter 2 and are connected to legislative procedures, which are not covered in Chapters 1 and 2. This differentiation between an amendable and discardable constitution is crucial, according to the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party. The party also criticized the government's approach, warning that approving a new constitution post-February 8th could lead to widespread criticism of state structures and institutions. The public is urged to carefully consider these implications in their judgment.