Thailand is set for early general elections next year after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul received royal approval on Friday to dissolve Parliament, marking the latest chapter of political shifts in Bangkok.
According to the Royal Decree, elections for the House of Representatives are scheduled to occur 45 to 60 days following the announcement, during which time Anutin will lead a caretaker administration with limited authority and be unable to propose a new budget. Based on the official timeline, the ballot could take place as early as February 1 or February 8, 2026.
Anutin, who assumed the premiership just three months ago after succeeding Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has presided over a turbulent political landscape. He secured victory in a parliamentary vote last September, gaining the backing of the main opposition People’s Party in return for a commitment to dissolve Parliament within four months and hold a referendum on drafting a new constitution through an elected constituent assembly.
The move towards constitutional reform has been a point of contention, with pressure mounting after Anutin’s Bhumjathai Party sided with retaining a significant portion of Senate votes in the constitutional amendment process. This decision prompted the People’s Party to threaten a non-confidence motion on Thursday, a development that appears to have accelerated the call for early elections, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Yesterday after the report of House dissolution, Paradorn Prissananantakul, Member of Parliament for Ang Thong from the Bhumjaithai Party, clarified to People’s Party representatives that if a vote was cast to cut the Senators’ powers as the People’s Party wished in the third reading, the Senators would not approve the entire constitutional amendment draft. This would result in the complete failure of the constitutional amendment process as agreed with the People’s Party for the vote to support Anutin as prime minister. Therefore, he requested that the Senators’ powers be maintained so that the process could move forward. However, the People’s Party representatives refused and announced that if they were defeated in the vote on Section 256/28, they would immediately submit a motion of no-confidence against the entire cabinet. Consequently, Anutin had to decide to dissolve the House of Representatives, as his government, being a minority administration supported by the People’s Party, would have to end if the People’s Party withdrew its support.
In his Facebook post, Mr. Anutin stated, “I am returning the power to the people.”
