National Legislative Assembly president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai said yesterday that the Secretariat of the Cabinet would now submit the draft to the King for royal endorsement by February 18.

The latest charter draft was passed in the referendum on August 7 last year, but was then subject to amendments following to the King’s observations. This resulted in a 90-day royal endorsement period and the charter promulgation was postponed.

A special panel was then set up to amend the draft. It included high profile legal experts, including chief charter drafter Meechai Ruchupan and Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam. They insisted yesterday that the draft would be submitted to His Majesty the King for royal endorsement by the given deadline.

Since the panel was first convened on January 18, the amendment content has not yet been disclosed. Wissanu reiterated 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.