The ambiguity over whether it refers to a majority of all eligible voters or only of those who actually show up for the referendum needs to be removed.

Some political critics and observers have complained that a requirement for a majority of eligible voters would be impossible to meet.

The military-led government has always insisted that the phrase meant actual voters from the beginning. If every party arrives at the same understanding, an amendment will probably not be necessary, Wissanu said yesterday.

If the Election Commission, the Constitution Drafting Commission and other organs agree today that the interim charter imposed by the military in 2014 must be amended, they would also have to discuss whether it should outline a course of action if the draft charter is rejected.

The junta’s temporary charter in its present form does not address that.

“Or we can amend the interim charter again, after the draft charter really fails in a referendum, and set out what to do next,” he said.

Each amendment would take no more than a month to complete.

No matter how the plebiscite turns out, the election will take place next year as promised by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, he said.

When exactly the referendum could be held cannot be confirmed at this point. There were many factors, including the at least 80 per cent margin of nationwide household receptions of the charter in advance of the referendum.

A version of a previous constitution could be brushed up and adopted if the current draft charter really does sink. It would not need to be put to a referendum any more, just be approved by the military’s ruling National Council for Peace and Order.

Only the Interior and Defence ministries have submitted comments on the new draft constitution. If the rest have any, they will have to turn them in to Wissanu by today.

The remarks gathered so far concerned only minor wording issues, he said. Agencies were worried that their working procedures would be affected and wanted explanations, but he did not go into details.

The comments will be forwarded to the prime minister and the CDC by the Monday due date.

Regarding the attacks on the draft charter, Wissanu said everyone had the right to speak out. The charter framers would heed the criticisms and adjust their draft as appropriate.

Prayut kept mumbling and spoke only briefly after the Cabinet’s weekly meeting yesterday, after throwing a temper tantrum and facing a backlash last week.

Usually, he meets the press after each Cabinet meeting, but yesterday he let Wissanu take to the podium. His message included “ask good questions”.

From now on, deputy prime ministers will take turns substituting for the PM at the post-meeting briefings, Wissanu said.

Ministers will also take the microphone if the meeting agenda concerned them and they had to speak to the press.

He said it was a good idea because deputy PMs and ministers have more information to share with the media than the prime minister, who could only give the big picture.