"The CDA has designated the Constitution Court president as head of the selection panel for senators, but this will certainly lead to legal wrangling as the high court will face conflict-of-interest problems if asked to rule on selection disputes," Komsan Phokong said.

Komson foresaw national deadlock if the CDA refused to amend the senatorial process by removing the involvement of the high-court president.

When the 35-member Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) submitted the draft for the CDA's debate, it did not anticipate that the CDA would opt to completely revamp the proposed selection process, he said.

CDC chairman Prasong Soonsiri called on CDA members to complete the vetting of the draft within the time frame instead of wasting time on a game of mutual upstaging.

Prasong said few CDA members had any justification to revive the debate on issues that had been voted on two or three times. He voiced optimism, however, that the CDA would approve the constitution draft by the July 6 deadline.

He was also confident that the anti-coup protests would not derail the referendum on the new charter, scheduled for August 19.

Between Friday evening and yesterday afternoon the CDA devoted two sessions to debate on whether to penalise ministers and government officials for failing to testify after being summoned by Parliament.

It cast three votes before agreeing not to punish them.

Meanwhile, Election Commission chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said he was ready to register new political parties as soon as the National Legislative Assembly passed the draft legislation on the issue.

Apichart said the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party was obliged to complete an audit of its financial records before applying for a new banner. The audit may take months and not finish in time for the general election.

"The issue about the disbanded party seeking to retain its old name or a new name rhyming with it will be decided after the EC has accepted the application of the new party," he said.

He said the EC would meet tomorrow to start preparations for the polls, which could take place as early as November 25.

CDA's chairman Noranit Sethabut yesterday reported on the latest developments in the drafting of the constitution, saying the assembly had reached agreement on three more major points.

First, concerning the qualification of members of Parliament (MPs) in article 95, an MP must be a member of some political party for at least 90 days before an election date, except if the election is held due to a House dissolution, when the requirement will be reduced to 30 days. An MP must also hold a bachelor's degree or higher, unless they have been an MP or senator before. Moreover, MP candidates must be registered in the area where they run for election candidacy at least one year and they must also have studied in the area for at least two years.

Second, the total number of MPs is to be 480, up from the previously agreed 400.

Third, vote-counting must be done at an election unit.