Thailand has dissolved parliament after nearly a week of fresh clashes along its border with Cambodia.
The renewed fighting with Cambodia has killed at least 20 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.
In a royal decree endorsed by Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 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 that he would dissolve parliament by the end of January. As such, the decree came earlier than expected.
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 dissolution order comes after the Prime Minister lost the support of the youthful, progressive People’s Party – also the largest party in parliament – which had previously backed his premiership.
The People’s Party and the pragmatic, conservative Bhumjaithai are ideological opposites. The opposition bloc’s support, however, came with strings attached.
It wanted Anutin to start reforms of Thailand’s military-drafted constitution and to dissolve the house within four months, among other things. The People’s Party has now accused Bhumjaithai of failing to honour that deal.
According to Thai media, the party had planned to submit a no-confidence motion against the government on Friday, having already called on the Prime Minister on Thursday to disband parliament to “show responsibility towards the people.”
Anutin wrote in the decree endorsed by Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn that the government had executed every means in public administration to quickly resolve the urgent issues “overwhelming the country… but running the country requires stability.”
“As a minority government, together with troubling domestic political circumstances, it has been unable to carry out public administration continuously, effectively and with stability.”
Anutin Charnvirakul
Government Spokesman, Siripong Angkasakulkiat confirmed that the dissolution followed a disagreement with the largest grouping in parliament, the opposition People’s Party.
“This happened because we can’t go forward in parliament. When the People’s Party couldn’t get what they want, they said they will submit a no-confidence motion and asked the PM to dissolve parliament immediately.”
Siripong Angkasakulkiat
Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party, told reporters late on Thursday that the Bhumjaithai Party did not follow the terms of their agreement. “We have tried to use the voice of the opposition to push forward amending the constitution,” he said.
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 to his cabinet a former lawyer who was once jailed.
Election To Be Called Within 45 to 60 Days
According to the royal decree, a general election will be called within 45 to 60 days.
Later, Anutin noted that looking at precedents, an election would likely be held within about 60 days, with results certified within a further 45 days and a new Cabinet formed in roughly another month.
The current government’s tenure would end when the new Cabinet is sworn in — a process he estimated would take around five to six months in total.
Commenting on whether the border situation with Cambodia would be resolved before the election, Anutin remarked that the government would do its best. “The military are already doing everything they can to defend our sovereignty,” he said.
He added that this evening, he would receive a briefing at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters before holding talks with the Malaysian leader and President Donald Trump.
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