Bangkok: The Election Commission of Thailand (EC) recently convened a meeting with political parties to organize them into groups for upcoming referendum debates. The meeting, chaired by Mr. Kriengkrai Pandokmai, Deputy Secretary-General of the EC, aimed at ensuring that five parties with differing viewpoints would share the stage during the debates. This initiative is designed to provide the public with ample information to make informed decisions on the referendum.
According to Thai News Agency, the meeting was conducted online, involving representatives from political parties and groups registered to participate. During the meeting, procedures were clarified, and a lottery was conducted to allocate representatives into groups for expressing their views. Initially, 34 political parties registered, but after some withdrawals, 30 parties remained-17 in support and 13 in opposition. Each side will send five representatives, selected by lottery, to represent their group.
The EC has scheduled a public hearing for the referendum on January 27, 2026, at 10:30 AM at the Auditorium of the Centara Life Government Complex Hotel, Chaeng Wattana. This event will be broadcast live on NBT 2HD and streamed on the Election Commission's and Political Development Fund's Facebook pages. Mr. Kriengkrai also mentioned a separate event on January 25, where registered citizens will present their opinions. This session will include two supporters and one opponent of the proposal. It will be live-streamed and recorded for dissemination through various media outlets.
Regional forums, organized by Provincial Election Commission offices, are also planned to facilitate opinion expression. Interested individuals can register to participate in these forums, which will be live-streamed on Facebook and shared through local media. The EC emphasizes equal opportunity for both supporters and opponents to express their views. Presenters have been briefed on the limits and scope of their opinions to ensure a well-informed public discourse.
Mr. Kriengkrai assured that the EC is vigilantly monitoring all platforms for any comments that might violate the law, using tools like the E-War room for constant oversight. This comprehensive approach aims to provide the public with diverse perspectives from politicians, academics, the general public, and social organizations, ensuring they have sufficient information to make informed decisions regarding the referendum.