Thailand Elections: Parliament Dissolved, Vote Soon!

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s Parliament was dissolved Friday for new elections early next year as the country engaged in deadly fighting with Cambodia.

Thailand Dissolves Parliament Amid Border Conflict

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved the House of Representatives after receiving approval from King Maha Vajiralongkorn, effective Friday with its publication in the Royal Gazette.

Anutin had signaled the move with a Facebook post late Thursday, stating: “I’d like to return power to the people.”

The election must be held 45 to 60 days after the royal endorsement. During this period, Anutin will lead a caretaker government with limited powers, unable to approve a new budget.

The dissolution comes at a politically sensitive time, as Thailand is currently engaged in large-scale combat with Cambodia over a longstanding border dispute.

Prime Minister Served Briefly

Anutin has only been prime minister since September, succeeding Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who served for one year before being removed from office due to a scandal stemming from previous border tensions.

Anutin won the September vote in Parliament with support from the main opposition People’s Party, after promising to dissolve Parliament within four months and organize a referendum on drafting a new constitution by an elected constituent assembly.

The People’s Party, which advocates for progressive platforms, has long sought constitutional changes, aiming to make it more democratic, as the current constitution was imposed during a military government.

The issue of constitutional change appeared to trigger the dissolution, after the People’s Party prepared to call a no-confidence vote Thursday. This threat followed lawmakers from Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party voting in favor of a bill to amend the constitution, which the opposition party felt contradicted their September agreement.

The People’s Party holds the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives and is considered the main challenger to Bhumjaithai. Leaders of the People’s Party expressed hope that Anutin would still honor the agreement to arrange a constitutional referendum as news of the pending dissolution circulated late Thursday.

Anutin previously served in Paetongtarn’s government but resigned and withdrew his party from her coalition government amid controversy over a phone call with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen in June.

Paetongtarn, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was suspended from office ahead of the July fighting after being found guilty of ethics violations over the politically compromising call.

Trump Involved in Peacemaking Efforts

With Thailand again engaged in heavy combat against Cambodia, Anutin has adopted an aggressive military posture to appeal to nationalistic public sentiment, stating that Thailand will continue fighting until its sovereignty and safety are guaranteed.

Following five days of border fighting in July, U.S. President Donald Trump urged both countries to agree on a ceasefire, threatening to withhold trade privileges.

Trump has vowed to again mediate peace between the two nations after widespread fighting resumed this week. He warned that high tariffs on Thai exports could be imposed if Thailand does not comply with his peacemaking efforts, potentially damaging its economy.

Trump stated twice this week that he expects to speak by phone with the Thai and Cambodian leaders, expressing confidence in his ability to persuade them to halt the fighting.

Anutin confirmed Friday that he is scheduled to speak with Trump Friday night, stating he would brief him on the latest situation along the border.

As of Thursday, approximately two dozen people had been reported killed in this week’s fighting, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced on both sides. The Thai military estimates that 165 Cambodian soldiers have been killed, though no official confirmation has been released by Phnom Penh.

Leader’s Posture May Boost Popularity

“Anutin has capitalized on the renewed border tensions with Cambodia to portray himself as a leader willing to take a nationalist, hard-line stance in defending Thailand’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” commented Napon Jatusripitak, director of the Center for Politics and Geopolitics at Thailand Future, a Bangkok-based think tank.

“This emerging narrative has, at least for now, eclipsed criticisms of his handling of the floods in Southern Thailand and muted scrutiny over lingering questions of his potential involvement with scam networks,” said Napon, who is also a visiting fellow at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

Purawich Watanasukh, a political scientist at Bangkok’s Thammasat University, noted that the standing of Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party has declined in recent weeks due to the southern flood crisis, which resulted in over 160 deaths, and his government’s handling of major scam scandals.

“However, the recent clash between Thailand and Cambodia has provided Anutin with an opportunity to reframe himself as a defender of national sovereignty, potentially boosting his popularity,” Purawich told The Associated Press in an email interview. “Dissolving the House at this moment allows Bhumjaithai to capitalize on this shifting sentiment.”

Jintamas reported from Buriram, Thailand.