BANGKOK (Sputnik) – The referendum took place on Sunday. The official results differed slightly from the ones published straight after the vote, where 61.4 percent supported the new draft constitution designed to give more power to the military-controlled government that has been in power since the May 2014 military coup in Thailand.
Among the draft constitution’s disputed sections was an emergency provision allowing the appointment of an unelected prime minister and the upper house of parliament. The upper house also gains the right to veto the lower house's constitutional amendments.
The referendum has been criticized over the lack of monitor access to observe its conduct, as well as the authorities' restrictions of any criticism of the document.
Thailand’s previous draft constitution failed to pass a parliamentary vote. The junta maintains that the new constitution will provide it with more means to fight corruption and ensure stability.
