Watana also said the junta should stop exercising its absolute power under Article 44 of the interim charter and it would risk its moral authority if it did not.

He warned that if the junta continued using such power, future governments would have difficulty being effective.

After the constitution was promulgated yesterday, the politician said that Pheu Thai Party was ready to run in the election. He added that the party was not worried if a military party contested because it would be advantageous for voters to have more choices, he said.

What did worry the party was that the elections be fair, that the junta’s absolute power could be wielded during the process, and that the elections results might be rejected, Watana said.