December 12, 2025 | 11:49 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has announced that he is "returning the power to the people." He's moving to dissolve the parliament to allow for earlier general elections than previously planned. Anutin made the request for the dissolution of the parliament to the king, as reported by local media on Thursday, December 11, 2025, as cited by Al Jazeera.
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has endorsed the decree to dissolve the parliament, as announced in the Royal Gazette on Friday. The dissolution of the parliament paves the way for an earlier general election. By law, the election must be held within 45 to 60 days.
Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat said that the move follows a deadlock with the opposition People's Party, the largest bloc in the legislature. "This happened because we can't go forward in parliament," Siripong said. He described the legislative stalemate that had paralyzed the government's agenda.
The political rupture occurred as Thailand was engaged in intense battles for four consecutive days with Cambodia along the shared border. At least 20 people were killed in both countries, and nearly 200 were injured. The battles involved artillery exchanges and air strikes.
Anutin stressed that the dissolution would not disrupt security operations. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he said that the military deployment along the border would continue seamlessly.
Anutin is the third prime minister of Thailand since August 2023. He is struggling to stabilize an economy hampered by high household debt, sluggish consumption, and pressure from U.S. tariffs. Political uncertainty has added pressure to the region's second-largest economy.
Anutin initially said that he planned to dissolve the parliament at the end of January. The election was originally scheduled for March or early April.
Anutin's rise to power came after his Bhumjaithai Party withdrew from the ruling coalition and a new deal was struck with the People's Party, demanding several concessions, including a referendum on constitutional reforms, in exchange for their support.
Siripong said the coalition fractured when the demands were not met. “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,” he said.
Read: Tensions Escalate as Border Clashes Erupt Between Thailand and Cambodia
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