Wissanu said the move was unlikely to have a detrimental effect as the outgoing chief ombudsman, Siracha Vongsarayankura, could continue in the job.

The selection “may result in a grave impact”, he said. “If we can suspend it, grave consequences will not take place.”

The selection process for the new chief ombudsman had been conducted after Siracha’s term ended on April 5.

The selection committee proposed Rewat Visarutvej to replace Siracha but in the subsequent National Legislative Assembly (NLA) vote there were 66 votes in favour of the nomination and 66 votes against it, with 24 votes to suspend the selection.

Rewat re-applied for the position, with the selection committee voting 30 times amid heavy criticism before finally re-nominating him for the post on July 5.

Prayut invoking the all-powerful Article 44 of the junta-imposed interim charter has also suspended the selection process for the Election Commission members, Constitutional Court judges, and members of the National Anti-Corruption Commission and National Human Rights Commission.

The order to cancel the selections was announced in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday. The military’s ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) said that as the referendum on the charter draft was yet to occur, selections should be suspended to ensure effective reform in the five constitutional agencies.

Wissanu said that if any other top positions in the agencies became available before the charter issue was sorted out, such as someone dying, current staff in the agencies could carry out the duties.

The order to cancel the selections will be nullified after the new charter is promulgated or there are orders otherwise, Wissanu said.

Asked why he believed that the selection of the ombudsman would result in “grave incidents”, he said: “If you had gone to [witness what happened with the selection process at] Parliament, you would realise that the matter is so gigantic that should never had happened.”

A source said Prayut decided to suspend the selection process after a group from pre-cadet Class 12, his old classmates, told him about the division Rewat’s nomination had caused in the NLA.

Rewat’s supporters include military and police officials who form a network of generals in the NCPO. His opponents are military generals who were in pre-cadet Class 12, bureaucrats and academics who believe he is close to the red-shirt movement.

NLA whip spokesman Dr Jetn Sirathranont said the assembly would discuss the selection process of the ombudsman because the NLA had finished checking the background and qualifications of Rewat for the post.

Jetn said that after the NCPO chief ordered the suspension of the selection process for the five agencies, he believed the NLA must stop the process.

He said that although the order stated that Sriracha could continue in his post, he would turn 70 years old on September 19. According to the interim charter’s organic law on ombudsmen, they must step down after turning 70.

However, the order stated that until the new charter is promulgated, the five independent agencies could continue to be operated by existing staff. After September 19, the Office of the Ombudsman will have two ombudsmen, General Viddhavat Rajatanun and Boon Tapanadul.