The coalition parties say they have gathered enough support to push for a motion to amend the constitution.
Chart Thai Pattana Party leader Chumpol Silpa-archa yesterday said more than 95 MPs had now signed on to support the motion, which was enough to submit it to parliament.
Mr Chumpol yesterday held talks with leaders of the Puea Pandin Party at a Bangkok hotel.
He said Puea Pandin and Chart Thai Pattana would work together to amend sections 190 and 94 of the charter.
Section 190 covers the requirement for the government to seek parliamentary approval before signing international agreements. The parties want to amend Section 94 to change the electoral system from large multi-seat constituencies to single-seat electorates.
Mr Chumpol said the charter amendment effort was intended to allow younger people more opportunity to enter politics.
Talkingshop Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva speaks with Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai on the first day of the ordinary House session yesterday. THITIWANNAMONTHA
Large multi-seat constituencies gave candidates with a lot of money an advantage and the system was more prone to vote-buying than the smaller single-seat system, he said.
The Bhumjaithai Party has also agreed to join forces with Chart Thai Pattana to change the two sections after Banharn Silpa-archa, chief adviser to Chart Thai Pattana, met for talks with Bhumjaithai powerbrokers Somsak Thepsuthin and Newin Chidchob at Siam City Hotel on Wednesday.
The opposition Puea Thai Party has also pledged support for the effort to change the two sections.
Puea Thai MP for Nakhon Phanom and deputy opposition chief whip Phaijit Sriworakhan said the party had agreed to support the move even though it would continue to campaign for a return to the 1997 constitution.
Mr Phaijit said even though only two sections of the charter would be amended, it was another step towards democracy. He commended Mr Banharn for leading the charter change.
Mr Banharn, as a seasoned politician, must have seen which way the wind was blowing before deciding to make the move, he said.
However, Mr Phaijit said it was still undecided whether Puea Thai MPs would join the coalition parties in voting for the proposed amendments as they would be given a free vote on the issue.
A source from Puea Thai said Mr Banharn last week asked key figures of the party, including former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and Sompong Amornwiwat, to allow the free vote.
The source said Puea Thai had accepted Mr Banharn's proposal but its MPs would not sign the motion officially. Opposition chief whip Witthaya Buranasiri said the government coalition parties should try to reach a common position on the charter review.
Puea Thai would consider whether to support the amendment bid only when the motion reached parliament.
Deputy Prime Minister and Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban confirmed yesterday that coalition unity remained strong.
He denied suggestions the government parties would leave the government and join Puea Thai.
Mr Suthep said the Democrat Party would discuss the proposal to amend Section 94 at a seminar in Krabi at the weekend. The Democrats prefer the multi-seat constituency system.
The party's resolution on the issue would be relayed to coalition members.
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