Thailand

Thailand's Constitutional Amendment: What You Need to Know

Thailand will hold a referendum on its current constitution alongside the general election on 8 February. The snap election was called after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved parliament in December 2025. Holding the referendum on the same day is intended to reduce costs and make voting more convenient.

Here is what you need to know about the upcoming referendum.

Why a New Charter?

Thailand’s current constitution was drafted following a military coup and has long been criticised for lacking democratic character. Critics argue that it weakens popular sovereignty and undermines meaningful checks and balances.

At the centre of the issue is the Senate, whose members are selected through a process with minimal public participation. Under the current charter, the Senate has the power to appoint judges to the Constitutional Court and members of other independent bodies that hold significant political influence. These bodies are often perceived as tools used against political opposition, particularly through the dissolution of political parties or the disqualification of elected politicians.

The Referendum Process

The referendum simply asks one basic question: “Do you approve of the drafting of a new constitution?” The voters may choose “Yes”, “No”, or “No Comment”. 

If the majority vote "Yes", the parliament will be authorised to initiate the process of drafting a new constitution. If “No” prevails the parliament cannot proceed with the constitution overhaul until a new referendum is held and approved.

The parliament still retain the authority to amend the constitution on an article-by-article basis, with the exception of explicitly protected provisions—most notably Sections 1 and 2, which concern the state and the monarchy. Although critics argue that the current system makes meaningful amendment difficult.

Who Supports the Amendment?

According to a poll conducted by KPI, 53% of 2,000 respondents nationwide said they support drafting a new constitution. Support is strongest among Gen Z, with 58.8% in favour.

Most major political parties, including the leading People’s Party and Pheu Thai Party, support constitutional reform. The ruling Bhumjaithai Party also backs the initiative, while maintaining that any amendments must not affect provisions related to the monarchy. The Democrat Party shares a similar position.

Opposition to constitutional change largely comes from ultra-conservative parties, such as the United Thai Nation Party, which supported former junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha as its prime ministerial candidate in the previous election.

What Comes Next?

This referendum represents only the first step in a lengthy constitutional amendment process. Following a 2025 ruling by the Constitutional Court, three referenda are required to complete a full overhaul: the first is to ask whether a new constitution should be drafted, the second is for people to approve the methods and key contents of the new draft, and the third is for people to approve of the new constitution. Experts estimate that the process to take at least two years to complete. 

In parallel, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Thailand has launched the “Dream Constitution” project last year, travelling across the country to engage youth and marginalised communities in conversations about the kind of constitution they want.

All discussions are documented in a publicly accessible database and forwarded to policymakers. The Foundation has also published a study based on the project’s findings. Read the publication HERE.

Takdanai Ketkaew is a Project and Communication Officer at FNF Thailand