Thailand plunged deeper into political uncertainty on Thursday (Dec 11) after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced he was dissolving parliament and “returning power to the people,” triggering early elections as the country simultaneously grapples with a deadly border conflict with Cambodia.
Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat confirmed to Reuters that the shock decision followed an escalating breakdown in cooperation between the government and the largest bloc in parliament, the opposition People’s Party.
“This happened because we can’t go forward in parliament,” Siripong said, noting repeated disputes that left the government unable to advance key legislation.
Late Friday, the Royal Gazette announced that King Maha Vajiralongkorn had endorsed the dissolution decree, formally clearing the way for early polls. Under Thailand’s constitution, elections must now be held within 45 to 60 days.
The announcement comes at a moment of heightened volatility for Thailand. The country is facing the fourth consecutive day of intense border clashes with Cambodia, which have killed at least 20 people and wounded nearly 200. Fighting has broken out at more than a dozen points along the frontier, with Thai and Cambodian forces exchanging small-arms fire and, in some cases, heavy artillery.
Anutin insisted that dissolving parliament would not affect the military’s operations along the border. “Security forces have clear orders, and they continue their mission,” he told reporters on Wednesday. On Thursday night, he posted on social media, “I am returning power to the people.”
Despite his assurances, analysts warn that political instability could complicate Thailand’s crisis management as tensions with Cambodia show no sign of easing.
Anutin is Thailand’s third prime minister since August 2023, a period marked by short-lived governments, coalition infighting, and mounting public frustration. The instability has contributed to weakening investor confidence, high household debt, soft domestic consumption, and the financial shock of recent U.S. trade tariffs.
In September, Anutin had indicated plans to dissolve parliament by late January and hold elections in March or early April. His abrupt move this week significantly accelerates that timetable.
Siripong said the People’s Party—whose support helped elevate Anutin to the premiership—had pushed aggressively for constitutional amendments and threatened a no-confidence vote when its demands stalled. “When the People’s Party couldn’t get what they want, they said they will submit a no-confidence motion and asked the PM to dissolve parliament immediately,” he said.
People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut accused Bhumjaithai, Anutin’s party, of violating the terms of their coalition agreement. “We have tried to use the voice of the opposition to push forward amending the constitution,” he told reporters Thursday.
Gregory Raymond, a strategic and defence studies scholar at the Australian National University, described the dissolution as setting up a “khaki election”—a term for polls held during a period of heightened military tension that can influence public sentiment.
He said the ongoing border conflict could bolster Anutin’s image as a defender of Thai sovereignty, offsetting criticism over the government’s handling of catastrophic floods in southern Thailand earlier this year.
However, recent allegations linking Anutin to regional scam syndicates have eroded his public standing. “That has really destabilised Anutin’s image as a clean politician … the opposition are asking a lot of very tough questions,” Raymond said.
He added that anti-Cambodian sentiment and other ultra-nationalistic views are rapidly rising across Thailand, making the current moment particularly combustible. “Animosity towards neighbouring countries is easily ignited in Thailand,” he noted.
