Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul Dissolves Parliament Amidst Crisis

Fri Dec 12 2025 17:36:36 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a decisive move aimed at returning power to the people, Thai PM Anutin Charnvirakul has dissolved parliament following growing unrest and a looming no-confidence vote. The call for a general election is set within the next two months.

Amid escalating tensions, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced the dissolution of parliament in response to a deadly border conflict with Cambodia and domestic political instability. This decision aims to restore democratic processes as the country prepares for elections within 45 to 60 days. Anutin's administration has faced significant criticism for its handling of recent crises, including severe flooding and military actions.

Thailand has dissolved parliament after nearly a week of fresh clashes along its border with Cambodia, with a general election to be called within 45 to 60 days.

In a royal decree published on Friday, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul cited the deadly border dispute among other challenges his minority government has struggled to contain since it took office three months ago.

The appropriate solution is to dissolve parliament… which is a way to return political power to the people, he said.

Anutin, a business tycoon, is Thailand's third prime minister since August 2023. When he took power in September, he stated his intent to dissolve parliament by the end of January.

However, now facing an imminent vote of no confidence, Anutin has expedited the election process.

Anutin and his Bhumjaithai party were heavily criticized for their handling of serious flooding in southern Thailand last month, which resulted in at least 176 fatalities.

The dissolution comes amidst renewed fighting with Cambodia, which has already claimed at least 20 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands.

The government had executed every means in public administration to quickly resolve the urgent issues overwhelming the country… but running the country requires stability, Anutin wrote in the decree endorsed by Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

As a minority government, together with troubling domestic political circumstances, it has been unable to carry out public administration continuously, effectively and with stability, he added.

The dissolution order follows the prime minister losing the support of the youthful, progressive People's Party, which was previously the largest party in parliament.

The People's Party, known for its progressive stance, has now accused Bhumjaithai of failing to honor shared commitments, including reforms of Thailand's military-drafted constitution. They had planned to submit a no-confidence motion against the government shortly before Anutin's announcement.

Without a stable coalition, the political landscape in Thailand has remained tumultuous, especially as the country has seen two prime ministers dismissed in the past year.

Additional reporting by Jonathan Head in Bangkok