Thirapat draws up timetable for government
PM's Office Minister Thirapat Serirangsan yesterday clarified his remarks about the term of the interim government and dismissed speculation about it trying to cling to power.
He triggered criticism on Tuesday after he said the government might stay in office for 17 months instead of the one year many previously assumed. "The time for this government hinges on the timetable to write the new charter and not an arbitrary decision by anyone," Thirapat said. Should the charter be completed ahead of schedule, the government will be dissolved in less than a year, he added. He outlined key steps and dates to monitor the drafting of the new charter as follows: lAppointment of the Cabinet on October 8. lFormation of the National People's Assembly (NPA), comprising 2,000 members and expected to be complete on January 4, 2007. The date can be advanced if the Council for National Security (CNS) deems it appropriate. lNPA's nomination of 200 candidates for the Constitution Drafting Council (CDC). The nomination process must be completed in seven days. lOf the 200 candidates, the CNS will choose 100 for royal appointment to the CDC. This should take about one month. lActivation of the CDC to start actually writing the new charter. This should happen around February, 2007. lCompletion of the drafting process in six months. This will be on or before August 1, 2007. The actual writing can be cut by up to 90 days if charter writers limit their debate on amendments to the 1997 Constitution. lSubmit the charter draft for referendum no later than 30 days. This will be around September 1, 2007. lShould the draft win approval by the referendum, the CDC will proceed to complete the drafting of organic laws. This will be around November 1, 2007. The writing of organic laws will take 90 days, discounting the 30 days allotted for the referendum. lThe next general election is expected to take place no later than December 15, 2007. lConvene the Parliament on January 15, 2008. lThe House of Representatives will elect its speaker before proceeding to name the new prime minister. This is expected to happen on February 15, 2008. lThe new prime minister is expected to spend one to two weeks forming the government. And the interim government will expire around February 28, 2008.
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