The amendment process should take about a month, Prayut said, including setting up of an 11-member special committee and for scribes to write the draft charter by hand.

Meanwhile, the special panel began working today, with Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who is also part of the panel, saying the amendments should be completed in seven days.

The panel, chaired by chief of Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) Meechai Ruchupan, convened for the first time at the Council of State Office after the Office of His Majesty’s Principle Private Secretary handed over His Majesty’s observations on Articles requiring amendment.

Wissanu declined to disclose the observations, but said the amendments should be completed in a week so other procedures can be pursued.

He said the panel might come up with several versions for Prayut to choose from.

Wissanu repeated that Articles related to political affairs would not be touched, but points related to the monarch’s power would be adjusted in line with the new amendments.

Countering speculation that other political points might be altered given the members of the special panels were experts in different political fields, Wissanu said these individuals had been appointed because they were members of the State Council.

He said the panel would not vote on the amendments even though there is an odd number of members.