BANGKOK — The junta-appointed legislature unanimously approved amendments Friday to the 2014 interim charter to allow rewriting parts of the new constitution already passed by the people.
The new constitution, which had been pending royal endorsement after being adopted in a public referendum, will be revised after Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Tuesday the His Majesty the King wanted some sections involving his authority to be rewritten.
The amendment passed Friday also relieved the king from obligations to appoint a regent when he is out of the kingdom or is unable to execute his duties.
Read: Prayuth to Change Constitution at King’s Request
Article 39 of the interim charter says the constitution must be dropped if the king disapproves of the document or does not take action on it within 90 days.
It was amended to allow ex post facto changes to the post-referendum charter as per King Vajiralongkorn’s request. The process to amending the constitution will begin after the prime minister receives it back from the king.
The process must begin before Feb.6, which marks the 90-day deadline after it went for first royal endorsement.
The amendment will be drafted by a specially formed, 10-member committee including head charter drafter Meechai Ruchupan and Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam.
After the constitution is amended, it will be re-submitted for royal endorsement within 30 days. The king will then have another 90 days to consider it.
Prayuth insisted no amendments concerned the public’s rights and freedoms.
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Prayuth to Change Constitution at King’s Request
