At 11:30 a.m. on January 7, a group of "new generation" senators, led by Nantana Nuntavoropas, Tawarit Maneechai, and Noraset Prapyakorn, held a press conference at Parliament to declare their support for the People's Party’s draft constitutional amendment. The proposed reform includes reducing the Senate’s power in constitutional amendments and establishing a fully elected Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA).

Support for Reduced Senate Powers

Nantana stated that the group agrees to relinquish the Senate’s current requirement of one-third approval in constitutional amendments. She acknowledged that senators are not directly elected by the people and thus cannot truly represent the entire population.

"We are willing to forgo this power so that elected representatives—Members of Parliament—can decide on constitutional amendments, aligning with the people's will," Nantana said.

Fully Elected Constitution Drafting Assembly

The group also supports the creation of a 100% elected CDA to draft a new constitution that truly reflects the people’s mandate. Nantana emphasized that the 2017 Constitution, drafted after a military coup, contains numerous flaws and loopholes stemming from its undemocratic origins.

"Redrafting the constitution as a whole is essential to ensure its legitimacy and coherence," Nantana explained, adding that piecemeal amendments would leave remnants of the authoritarian framework intact.

Safeguards on Governance Structure

Addressing concerns about altering Thailand’s governance system, Tawarit Maneechai highlighted that Section 255 of the Constitution explicitly prohibits changes to the state’s form of government or territorial integrity. He reassured skeptics, stating that any constitutional amendments must pass at least two public referendums, ensuring public oversight.

"If there’s any attempt to alter the state’s governance structure, the people will ultimately reject it in the referendum," Tawarit said, adding that previous amendments to Sections 1 and 2 have merely refined wording to suit changing contexts, without altering the essence of governance.

Tawarit also noted that the most substantial amendments to these sections were made by Meechai Ruchuphan, the former head of the Constitution Drafting Committee, yet criticisms were seldom directed at him.

Clarifying Political Concerns

Tawarit questioned whether fears about altering governance were genuine or politically motivated, stating, "The People's Party draft explicitly maintains Section 255, so any concerns seem to stem more from political maneuvering than actual risks."

The group’s stance marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over constitutional reform in Thailand, underscoring both a commitment to democratic principles and assurances to preserve the state’s foundational framework.