Prayut, the head of the National Council for Peace and Order, said he would try not to issue an order that violates the new Constitution.

“Is anyone in general affected by Article 44?” Prayut rhetorically asked during his weekly press briefing. “I see none. Only politicians keep complaining over that. They were always negligent to enforce laws and conduct things.”

The premier’s remarks followed calls from political blocs that the ruling junta should consider suspending or revoking some orders issued under Article 44, which grants Prayut, as the NCPO head, absolute power.

The blocs focused on the NCPO order 7/2014 that has banned political gatherings of five or more people since hours after the coup was staged. Political parties have been unable to hold meetings on political agendas while activists and groups need to be vigilant if they want to assemble.

These restriction should now be lifted, given that the 2017 charter is already enforced, marking the first step of legislation procedure toward elections. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, said that parties should be allowed to discuss preparations for election campaigns.

But Prayut insisted that he had no intention to stop using or lifting any order issued by Article 44. The premier is still able to use the power under the current charter’s Article 265.

Prayut, meanwhile, said that some changes on the junta’s so-called road map to democracy are likely due to the Royal Cremation to be held this October.

“Election campaigns should be held after the ceremony, or are they [politicians] not mourning at all?” he said.

The public should “calm down” as the charter was already promulgated last Thursday, he said. “… currently, we’re not fully democratic but everything is going fine,” he said.