DEPUTY PRIME Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam reaffirmed yesterday that the next general election would be held next year regardless of the solution adopted if the charter draft is rejected in the referendum.

Wissanu said in order to highlight the significance of reform, the government wanted the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) to make provisions on reform a separate chapter rather than merely provisional clauses as was the case in the first charter draft presented by the Meechai Ruchuphan-led CDC.

Asked if the government agreed with other CDC proposals that have met with public resistance, such as for a non-elected PM, Wissanu said the fact that the government had said nothing did not signify it agreed.

Wissanu said it would not be advisable to reveal right now the government’s solution if the charter draft is rejected since that would bring negative consequences. “It would be like giving the public two choices before they make a decision in the referendum – that if they do not take this, they will get that,” he said.

One solution that’s been suggested in case the charter is rejected by a public vote is for the government to pick either the 1997 or the 2007 charter and brush it up for promulgation. Another solution offered by critics of the current draft is to amend the 2014 interim charter.

CDC chairman Meechai yesterday urged critics to read the entire draft and see that it covers all the important issues and aims to tackle the country’s key problems.

He also said the CDC would carefully study suggestions made on its first draft and then make necessary revisions to rectify any flaws or weakness.

The chief charter drafter reiterated that in order to tackle the problem of corruption, the new constitution would ban public-office holders convicted of graft from gaining political power for the rest of their lives.

“The CDC has come up with a mechanism of scrutiny that starts early and continues until elected persons assume office,” he told a seminar on the new charter draft at Parliament.

He also said that some politicians had attempted to distort the content of the draft constitution by, for instance, claiming that government ministers would be restricted in performing their duties.

“This allegation is untrue. The mechanism set in the constitution aims to ensure discipline for government. It does not obstruct government policies as alleged,” Meechai said.

Meanwhile, spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order, Colonel Winthai Suvari, yesterday urged certain politicians not to use the draft constitution to serve their political motives.

He said it appeared that these politicians were using rhetoric to provoke their supporters in the same way as they did while leading street protests. He urged them to avoid causing confusion for people in society.

“They should better suggest what should be done to improve the draft constitution and where to make revisions. It seems their main goal is to have people vote down the draft,” the spokesman said.

Winthai said the issues of concern raised by those politicians, including red-shirt leader and Pheu Thai Party politician Jatuporn Prompan, had been clearly explained by the CDC on many occasions.