Bangkok: Mr. Chusak Sirinil, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and Deputy Leader of the Pheu Thai Party (PTP), has clarified that he is not in conflict with Mr. Nikorn Chamnong, Secretary of the Joint Committee to Consider the Draft Referendum Act. Mr. Chusak is exploring possible legal solutions after Mr. Nikorn confirmed that converting the referendum bill into a financial law is no longer feasible due to the elapsed time period. According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chusak acknowledged that after reviewing numerous constitutional articles, it is evident that the window for such conversion has indeed closed. He emphasized that his intention was to address the impasse faced by the joint committee in drafting a new constitution. He suggested that interpreting whether the bill could be considered a financial law was merely one potential option, but did not commit to it as a definitive solution. Instead, he advocated for discussions with the chairman of the Government Coalition Coordination Committee and o ther relevant committees to explore possible resolutions. Mr. Chusak reiterated his stance, stating, "I don't argue with what Mr. Nikorn said, but we need to discuss the legal issues to see if there is a solution." When questioned about the possibility of completing the constitutional amendment within the current government's term if the matter was not a financial law, he explained that reducing the number of referendums from three to two would necessitate further discussions with relevant parties. He expressed confidence that the entire constitution could be amended within the current government's term, emphasizing that if a referendum is held three times, it would not be feasible in time. Mr. Chusak is determined to push for the establishment of a Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) before the end of the government's term, which he had previously communicated to the media. For upcoming elections, the rules of the old constitution will be applied. Addressing whether amendments to critical sections would be possible if the entire constitution cannot be revised in time, Mr. Chusak stated that forming a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution would eliminate the need for section-by-section changes unless absolutely necessary. He noted that, given the current situation, there are no urgent issues requiring immediate amendment.
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