Winai Phattiyakul, secretary general of the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR) under the Constitutional Monarchy, speaks at a news conference held in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, yesterday. -Xinhua

Thailand's Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) said on late Monday that a new prime minister would be appointed next week.

CDRM Secretary General Gen. Winai Phattiyakul said the military planned to issue an interim constitution later this week and that a new prime minister would be named early next week.

"The drafting of an interim constitution is finished. It is under consideration by experts. It is expected to be announced within this week," he said.

"After that announcement, the next step will be the selection of a prime minister, which will happen by early next week," he told reporters.

Winai made the remarks after briefing foreign diplomats at the foreign ministry.

Once the new premier sets up a government, a new council would be set up to draft a permanent constitution and pave the way for new elections, Winai said.

That process should take eight and a half months, he added, after which a general election would be held.