Thailand dissolves parliament, paving way for election in May

BANGKOK - Thai’s parliament was dissolved today to pave the way for elections in May.

Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has endorsed a decree to dissolve the parliament, according to the Royal Gazette published on Monday,

"This is to restore political decision-making power to the people in order to continue the democratic system with the King as head of state,” said the decree published on Monday.

Under the constitution, an election must be held 45 to 60 days after the house dissolution.

The Election Commission is expected to meet this week to set the date for the election.

However, observers speculated that the election will take place either on May 7 or May 14 which is a Sunday.

Prayuth, 68, a former army general who first came to power in a military coup in 2014, is seeking another term in the upcoming general election though his eight-year term limit as prime minister ends in 2025. Under 2017 constitution, a prime minister can serve only eight years in office.

For this year’s election, Prayuth will run under a new party- United Thai Nation Party as its prime minister candidate while Palang Pracharath named Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan as its candidate for prime minister.

Thailand had its last general election on March 24, 2019.

Prayuth has headed a coalition government after the 2019 general election. He did not run in the election but he was the prime minister candidate of the military-backed Palang Pracharath Party.

The poll by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) showed the youngest daughter of billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra remains the top choice to become the next prime minister.

The survey published at the weekend showed Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Pheu Thai Party ’s support jumped 10 points to 38.2 per cent and Pita Limjaroenrat of the Move Forward Party in second place with 15.75 per cent and Prayuth (15.65 per cent).

Meanwhile, Prayuth’s last official action was chairing the Board of Investment (BOI) board meeting at the Government House.

He thanked and posed in group photos with members of the media at the Government House after the decree to dissolve the parliament was published. - BERNAMA