Against the backdrop of ongoing clashes at the border with Cambodia, the Prime Minister of Thailand has decided to dissolve the parliament in preparation for new elections scheduled for early next year. This was reported by Kazinform, citing Euronews.
The decision to dissolve was made by Anutin Charnvirakul after receiving the consent of King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
According to the legislation, elections must be held within 45-60 days after the king's candidacy is confirmed. During this period, Anutin will serve as the acting head of government with limited powers, unable to approve a new budget.
Anutin has held the position of Prime Minister for less than three months, having received support from the main opposition party, the People's Party. In exchange for their support, he promised to dissolve parliament within four months and hold a referendum on a new constitution.
The People's Party, which advocates for progressive reforms, has long demanded changes to the constitution adopted during military rule to make it more democratic.
It is evident that the issue of constitutional changes was the reason for the dissolution of parliament, as on Thursday the party prepared a vote of no confidence against Anutin.
This move comes amid a complex political situation, as Thailand faces large-scale hostilities with Cambodia due to long-standing border disputes.
The clashes, which began on December 7, have been the most serious since July, when the countries exchanged missile and artillery strikes for five days. As a result of these battles, 48 people were killed, and more than 300,000 were forced to leave their homes.
