Thailand’s parliament is dissolved for a new election early next year

Thai Parliament Dissolved Amid Border Conflict with Cambodia

Thailand’s parliament was dissolved Friday, paving the way for new elections as the country finds itself embroiled in deadly border clashes with neighboring Cambodia. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced the dissolution after receiving royal approval from King Maha Vajiralongkorn, officially published in the Royal Gazette.

“I’d like to return power to the people,” Anutin had signaled in a Facebook post late Thursday, foreshadowing the move. The dissolution triggers an election that must be held within 45 to 60 days, during which Anutin will lead a caretaker government with restricted powers, including the inability to approve new budgets.

The timing is particularly sensitive as Thailand is engaged in significant military confrontation with Cambodia over a long-contested border dispute that has already resulted in casualties on both sides.

Anutin’s brief tenure of just three months as prime minister followed his predecessor Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who served only a year before losing office over a scandal stemming from a previous round of border tensions. Paetongtarn, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was suspended after being found guilty of ethics violations related to a politically compromising phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen in June.

The current prime minister secured his position in September through parliamentary support from the main opposition People’s Party. This support came with the condition that he dissolve parliament within four months and organize a referendum on drafting a new constitution through an elected constituent assembly. The People’s Party has long advocated for constitutional changes to replace the current charter, which was imposed during military rule, arguing it lacks democratic principles.

Constitutional disagreements appear to have triggered the dissolution. The People’s Party had prepared to call a no-confidence vote Thursday after lawmakers from Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party supported a constitutional amendment bill that opposition leaders felt violated their September agreement. As dissolution rumors spread, People’s Party leaders expressed hope that Anutin would still honor their agreement for a constitutional referendum.

The current border conflict has escalated dramatically this week. Approximately two dozen people have been reported killed, with hundreds of thousands displaced on both sides. Thai military sources estimate 165 Cambodian soldiers have died, though Phnom Penh has not officially confirmed casualty figures.

U.S. President Donald Trump has inserted himself into the diplomatic situation, vowing to broker peace between the two Southeast Asian neighbors. Trump has threatened to withhold trade privileges from both countries if they fail to reach a ceasefire, a move that could severely impact Thailand’s already struggling economy. Anutin confirmed Friday that he spoke with Trump but maintained Thailand’s position to continue fighting until Cambodia no longer threatens Thai sovereignty.

Analysts suggest Anutin may be leveraging the border crisis for political advantage. “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,” observed Napon Jatusripitak, director of the Center for Politics and Geopolitics at Thailand Future, a Bangkok-based think tank.

This hawkish posture comes at a time when Anutin’s political standing had been declining due to criticism over the government’s handling of devastating floods in southern Thailand that claimed more than 160 lives, as well as major scam scandals that implicated some officials and business figures.

“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,” explained Purawich Watanasukh, a political scientist at Bangkok’s Thammasat University. “Dissolving the House at this moment allows Bhumjaithai to capitalize on this shifting sentiment.”

The upcoming election will be closely watched both domestically and internationally, particularly as it unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing border hostilities and regional diplomatic pressures. Thailand, a key U.S. ally in Southeast Asia and an important manufacturing and tourism hub, now faces a period of political transition during one of its most significant security challenges in recent years.