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Thailand dissolves parliament for election
- Thailand’s king has endorsed decree to dissolve parliament, paving way for May election; PM Prayuth Chan-ocha has been in power since a 2014 coup
- Election expected to highlight long-running political battle between billionaire Shinawatra family and conservative pro-military establishment
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Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has endorsed a decree to dissolve parliament, according to an announcement in the Royal Gazette on Monday, ahead of the end of the lower house’s four-year term on Wednesday, paving the way for an election in May.
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It must be held 45 to 60 days after the house dissolution, which takes effect immediately.
“This is a return of political decision-making power to the people swiftly to continue democratic government with the king as head of state,” said the decree.
An election date has yet to be announced but Deputy Prime Minster Wissanu Krea-ngam earlier in the day said it would likely be held on May 14, if the house were dissolved on Monday.
Thailand’s election is expected to showcase a long-running political battle between the billionaire Shinawatra family and the country’s conservative pro-military establishment.
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Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter and niece respectively of ousted former premiers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra, is the front runner to be prime minister in opinion surveys, with her support jumping 10 points to 38.2 per cent in a poll released at the weekend.
The poll by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) put Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who has been in power since a 2014 coup, in third place with 15.65 per cent.
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