PUBLISHED : 22 Jan 2026 at 06:04
Representatives from 35 political parties will present their views and stances on the looming constitutional referendum next Tuesday, according to the Election Commission (EC).
The EC said on Wednesday that the session will be held at the Centara Life Government Complex and Convention Center, Chaeng Watthana, Bangkok. Party representatives will report at 9am followed by a draw to determine the speaking order. Formal presentations will begin at 10.30am.
The EC said 35 parties had registered to take part in expressing views on the upcoming national referendum, following an invitation issued between Jan 17-19 via an Open Chat Line group.
Of these, 18 support the referendum, 14 oppose it, and three have alternative opinions.
The process to select …
PUBLISHED : 22 Jan 2026 at 06:04
Representatives from 35 political parties will present their views and stances on the looming constitutional referendum next Tuesday, according to the Election Commission (EC).
The EC said on Wednesday that the session will be held at the Centara Life Government Complex and Convention Center, Chaeng Watthana, Bangkok. Party representatives will report at 9am followed by a draw to determine the speaking order. Formal presentations will begin at 10.30am.
The EC said 35 parties had registered to take part in expressing views on the upcoming national referendum, following an invitation issued between Jan 17-19 via an Open Chat Line group.
Of these, 18 support the referendum, 14 oppose it, and three have alternative opinions.
The process to select party representatives will take place on Friday at 10am via a Zoom meeting hosted by the EC at its headquarters.
Officials will brief participants on the overall framework for public opinion sessions related to the referendum.
Parties will be divided into two main groups – supporters and opponents – each tasked with selecting five representatives, except for the three parties with alternative views, the EC said.
If an agreement cannot be reached, the Bangkok election director will conduct a draw.
Meanwhile, former senator Somchai Swaengkarn issued a post on his Facebook page warning about the implications of drafting a new constitution.
He cautioned that if the Feb 8 referendum results in the scrapping of the current charter, there would be no guarantee that existing provisions will remain or be amended in a secure manner.
Mr Somchai, who previously petitioned the Constitutional Court along with members of parliament and who once served as chairman of the Senate committee that reviewed the referendum proposal, urged voters to carefully study Senate reports before deciding whether to support drafting an entirely new charter.
He said a referendum would require funding equivalent to two national elections, each costing 3–4 billion baht.