Thai reform council rejects draft charter

Thailand's National Reform Council (NRC) on Sunday voted 135: 105, with 7 abstentions, to reject a draft constitution.

A new constitution drafting committee will have to be set up to draft another charter within 180 days.

The 124-page draft charter is one of the longest in the world.

If the NRC votes down the draft charter, a referendum, originally scheduled for next January, could be delayed to July 2016, and as a result, a general election might not be held until April 2017, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea- ngam said earlier.

The draft charter has drawn criticism over several controversial provisions, including one stipulating the establishment of a strategic committee for reform and reconciliation, also known as the crisis committee, which is empowered to take over from an elected government in a crisis if the action is deemed necessary. The decisions and actions of the crisis committee shall be deemed legitimate and final.

Clauses that allow an outsider or non-MP to become prime minister, and a largely appointed Senate have also been debated.

Source: XINHUA