Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has submitted a decree to dissolve parliament, his party confirmed Wednesday, following a major political shift that saw a key opposition party back a rival candidate for prime minister.
The move comes after former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was ousted last week by the Constitutional Court, which found her in violation of ministerial ethics over her handling of a border dispute with Cambodia. Her removal left a power vacuum and triggered a scramble among rival factions to fill the top post.
Paetongtarn's Pheu Thai party, currently overseeing a caretaker government, had been in talks with the opposition People’s Party to support a new candidate from within its ranks. However, the People’s Party instead threw its support behind conservative tycoon Anutin Charnvirakul, a former deputy prime minister and health minister.
Soon after the People's Party's announcement, Pheu Thai secretary general Sorawong Thienthong told AFP that Phumtham had submitted a house dissolution decree. Under the Thai constitution, an election must be held within 45 to 60 days if the king approves the dissolution.
Anutin, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, previously served in key cabinet roles and was known for legalizing cannabis in 2022. He also oversaw Thailand’s Covid-19 response, though his comments blaming Western tourists for the virus sparked public backlash and an eventual apology.
Despite his nomination, it remains uncertain whether Anutin will assume office. The People’s Party has made its support conditional on parliamentary dissolution and fresh elections within four months. If elections go ahead, Anutin’s role may be short-lived depending on the outcome.
Bhumjaithai had previously been a coalition partner in the Paetongtarn-led government but withdrew support over her handling of the Cambodia border row—an issue that ultimately led to her dismissal by the court.
Only individuals nominated as prime ministerial candidates during the 2023 election are eligible to take office, and political turmoil in recent months has reduced that list to just five contenders. The developments mark another chapter in the long-running rivalry between Thailand’s pro-democracy factions and its conservative, pro-military establishment, as the Pheu Thai party faces waning influence amid shifting political alliances.
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