Although the constitution was promulgated on Thursday, making the post-coup interim charter defunct, the new document’s Article 265 equips the military’s ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) with the same powers granted by the interim charter.

This includes the famous Article 44, which grants the junta leader absolute power.

Meechai’s view echoed those of other veteran legal experts including Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who earlier said Article 44 would remain in place under new charter’s Article 265.

The fresh charter was approved in a referendum last August. It was amended after His Majesty the King’s observations, before being promulgated this week.