Thailand has dissolved parliament after nearly a week of fresh clashes along its border with Cambodia, with a general election to be called within 45 to 60 days. In a royal decree published on Friday, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul cited the deadly border dispute among other challenges his minority government has struggled to contain since it took office three months ago.
The appropriate solution is to dissolve parliament… which is a way to return political power to the people, he said. Anutin, a business tycoon, is Thailand's third prime minister since August 2023. When he took power in September, he said he would dissolve parliament by the end of January.
However, now facing an imminent vote of no confidence, Anutin brought the election forward. Anutin and his Bhumjaithai party were heavily criticised for their handling of serious flooding in southern Thailand last month, which left at least 176 people dead.
The house's dissolution comes during renewed fighting with Cambodia, which has killed at least 20 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.
The government had executed every means in public administration to quickly resolve the urgent issues overwhelming the country… but running the country requires stability, Anutin wrote in the decree endorsed by Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
As a minority government, the administration has found it increasingly difficult to effectively manage the country, particularly after losing the support of the youthful, progressive People's Party, now the largest party in parliament, which had previously backed his premiership.
The People's Party has now accused Bhumjaithai of failing to honour their deal to reform the military-drafted constitution and dissolve the house within four months. It had planned to submit a no-confidence motion against the government on Friday, having already called on Anutin to dissolve parliament to show responsibility towards the people.
See you at the polling stations, the party said in a statement on Facebook. Thailand has been in political turmoil over the past year, with two prime ministers dismissed by the courts.
Anutin's predecessor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was removed for violating ethics, after she was heard calling Cambodia's former leader Hun Sen uncle and criticising the Thai army in a leaked phone call. Srettha Thavisin, the leader before her, was also dismissed for violating ethics by appointing a former lawyer who was once jailed.
The appropriate solution is to dissolve parliament… which is a way to return political power to the people, he said. Anutin, a business tycoon, is Thailand's third prime minister since August 2023. When he took power in September, he said he would dissolve parliament by the end of January.
However, now facing an imminent vote of no confidence, Anutin brought the election forward. Anutin and his Bhumjaithai party were heavily criticised for their handling of serious flooding in southern Thailand last month, which left at least 176 people dead.
The house's dissolution comes during renewed fighting with Cambodia, which has killed at least 20 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.
The government had executed every means in public administration to quickly resolve the urgent issues overwhelming the country… but running the country requires stability, Anutin wrote in the decree endorsed by Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
As a minority government, the administration has found it increasingly difficult to effectively manage the country, particularly after losing the support of the youthful, progressive People's Party, now the largest party in parliament, which had previously backed his premiership.
The People's Party has now accused Bhumjaithai of failing to honour their deal to reform the military-drafted constitution and dissolve the house within four months. It had planned to submit a no-confidence motion against the government on Friday, having already called on Anutin to dissolve parliament to show responsibility towards the people.
See you at the polling stations, the party said in a statement on Facebook. Thailand has been in political turmoil over the past year, with two prime ministers dismissed by the courts.
Anutin's predecessor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was removed for violating ethics, after she was heard calling Cambodia's former leader Hun Sen uncle and criticising the Thai army in a leaked phone call. Srettha Thavisin, the leader before her, was also dismissed for violating ethics by appointing a former lawyer who was once jailed.
