Pradorn pointed out that he still cannot provide a clear timeline for constitutional amendments and that they must wait to see how the first reading debate proceeds. He said there are many more steps to come and revealed he has already spoken with Chusak, adding that Bhumjaithai is ready to lend support to Pheu Thai for submitting the draft.
At 10:25 a.m. on 25 May 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Pradorn Prissanantakul, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, gave an interview at the Government House regarding the case of Mr. Nikorn Jamnong, a party-list Member of Parliament (MP) from the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), outlining a timeline for constitutional amendment and the second referendum. He said, “We still do not know and cannot predict how the consideration of the principle in the first reading will proceed. Currently, only the Bhumjaithai Party has submitted a draft, but it is unknown how many more drafts other parties will submit or whether the Prachachon Party will also join in proposing one. Therefore, setting a timeline is difficult; all this is a matter for Parliament.”
Regarding the case where Mr. Natthapong Ruangpanyawut, party-list MP and leader of the Prachachon Party, stated that the Bhumjaithai Party's draft amendment does not meet Prachachon’s three conditions, Mr. Pradorn revealed he has not yet seen the Prachachon draft. He said the Bhumjaithai draft was presented first to allow public critique and is not the final version. A parliamentary committee must be set up to discuss and create a committee draft for the second reading. Many steps remain, but today Bhumjaithai has clearly shown their sincere intent to amend the constitution.
When asked whether they would seek to understand and gain 20% support from the opposition in the third reading, Mr. Pradorn said that is too far ahead. He suggested waiting to see how the first reading debate unfolds and how much discussion and compromise occurs within the committee. If everyone agrees at the committee stage, there will be no problem. On whether all parties must compromise, he said since the constitution is a public law, everyone must agree. The constitution clearly sets conditions that must be met to pass a draft, so amendments must be approved by all sides.
When asked if he had talked with the Pheu Thai Party about supporting their draft, Mr. Pradorn said, he had had off-the-record talks with Mr. Chusak Sirinil, party-list MP and deputy leader of Pheu Thai, because Pheu Thai’s 71 MPs are insufficient to submit a draft amendment alone. The coalition, especially Bhumjaithai, is ready to support depending on the draft proposed by Pheu Thai.
Regarding whether the central budget for a second referendum is sufficient, Mr. Pradorn responded that whenever the law requires the government to act, the Prime Minister has repeatedly emphasized that the government is ready to proceed in all ways to fulfill the will of the 26.7 million people as expressed in the referendum results, using all agencies to support this. It is the government's duty to act according to the law. .