Thailand’s prime minister has dissolved parliament. A tight race is emerging in the parliamentary elections planned for May in Thailand.
In Thailand, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has dissolved parliament, paving the way for the planned new elections in May. This is according to an official statement published in the Royal Gazette on Monday. It is the second election since the 2014 coup and the first since the country was rocked by protests in Bangkok in 2020
The most likely date for the vote is May 7 or 14, the newspaper “Bangkok Post” reported, citing the election commission. The 500 seats in the House of Representatives will be up for grabs in the general election. The four-year legislative period ends in a few days.
Democracy movement called for resignation
The last election in the Southeast Asian kingdom was held in March 2019 – the first since the military coup in May 2014. Prayut Chan-o-cha, who led the coup as a general, emerged victorious and was elected for a second term confirmed as Prime Minister. However, the new constitution introduced under the military government gave him a clear advantage in the election.
More than 52 million eligible voters are called to the polls. Prayut hopes for another term with his United Thai Nation Party. In polls, however, Paetongtarn Shinawatra is ahead with the opposition Pheu Thai party. The 36-year-old is the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Opportunities are also given to the leader of the Move Forward party, Pita Limjaroenrat (42).
In the capital Bangkok there had been mass protests again and again in 2020. Among other things, the democracy movement called for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut, new elections and a reform of the constitution and the monarchy.
