BANGKOK, Thailand: Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Thursday that he is “returning power to the people”, moving to dissolve parliament and clear the way for fresh elections.
“I would like to return the power to the people,” he wrote in a post on Facebook.
Anutin, of the conservative Bhumjaithai party, became prime minister in September after his predecessor was removed from office by the court over an ethics violation.
He earlier this year pledged to dissolve the lower house — the formal step to call an election — and hold a vote by early 2026.
Anutin was widely expected to dissolve parliament after Christmas. Signs of an earlier timetable come amid a reignited border conflict with Cambodia that has killed at least 20 people and displaced around 600,000.
Thai government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat, cited by Reuters, said the move followed a disagreement with the largest grouping in parliament, the opposition People’s Party.
“This happened because we can’t go forward in parliament,” he told Reuters.
Anutin told reporters on Wednesday that dissolving parliament would not impact Thailand’s military operations along the border with Cambodia, where clashes have broken out at more than a dozen locations, some involving exchanges of heavy artillery.
He is Thailand’s third prime minister since August 2023, and political instability is taking a toll on the Southeast Asian country, which is grappling with US tariffs, high household debt, and weak consumption.
If the king approves a request for the dissolution of parliament by the prime minister, polls must be held within 45-60 days, according to the Thai constitution.
In September, Anutin had said that he planned to dissolve parliament by the end of January, with a general election to be held in March or early April, but this move would accelerate that timeline.
Anutin took power after pulling his Bhumjaithai party out of a ruling coalition and securing the backing of the People’s Party, which put forward a number of demands.
“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 said.
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 in amending the constitution,” he said.
