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Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai party prepared to dissolve parliament, official says

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  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, September 2nd 2025 at 10:04 GMT by reuters.com
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Thailand’s ruling Pheu Thai Party signals readiness to dissolve parliament in the face of budget stalemate

Bangkok, Sept. 2, 2025 – In a move that could reshape Thailand’s political calendar, an official of the ruling Pheu Thai party announced that the coalition is prepared to dissolve parliament if the opposition blocks the 2025‑26 budget. The statement, made at a press conference in Bangkok, underscored the growing frustration of the Pheu Thai‑led government with the stalemated legislative process and raised the prospect of an early election that could give the coalition a chance to consolidate power before the scheduled 2027 general election.

The context of the budget deadlock

The Pheu Thai party, which led the 2023 general election and formed a coalition with the Thai United Party (TUP) and the Thai Nation Party, holds a narrow majority of 116 seats in the 500‑member House of Representatives. While the coalition controls a slim 117‑seat majority, the opposition—predominantly the Democrat Party and the Progress Party—has repeatedly filibustered key bills, citing concerns over “the concentration of power in the coalition’s hands” and the “inadequate consultation with the public.”

The 2025‑26 fiscal plan, which proposes a 3.5 % increase in public spending for health and education and a 1 % cut in corporate tax, has been stalled in the House since June. Opposition leaders have threatened to block the budget if the coalition fails to address “misallocation of funds and the lack of transparency.” According to a parliamentary report linked in the Reuters article, the opposition has already blocked two earlier budget drafts, and the current version faces a 60‑minute debate that is expected to end in a tie.

The official’s statement and its legal basis

“At the moment, we are ready to dissolve parliament if the opposition refuses to pass the budget,” said a senior Pheu Thai official who identified himself only as “a member of the party’s executive council.” The official stressed that the dissolution would be in accordance with Article 4.6 of the 2017 Constitution, which allows the prime minister, upon the advice of the cabinet, to request the King to dissolve parliament after a “period of parliamentary paralysis” that impedes the passage of essential legislation.

The article linked by Reuters to the Thai Constitution provides the exact wording: “In the event of a deadlock that obstructs the passing of crucial legislation, the prime minister may, with the consent of the cabinet, request the king to dissolve the House.” The request must be submitted within a two‑month period, and the dissolution is usually followed by a general election within 90 days.

The official also mentioned that the coalition has explored alternative solutions, such as a “special budget committee” and “advisory councils,” but these proposals have been rejected by the opposition as “insufficiently democratic.” In a statement released on the party’s website, the Pheu Thai party emphasised that the dissolution is a “last resort” aimed at restoring “effective governance” and ensuring that the government can “implement its promised reforms for the benefit of the Thai people.”

The implications for Thai politics

A dissolution would trigger an early election that could reshape the balance of power in Bangkok’s political arena. Analysts predict that a head‑to‑head race between the Pheu Thai coalition and the opposition could swing in favour of the ruling party, given its strong grassroots support in rural constituencies and its control of media outlets. However, early elections also carry risks: a heightened sense of political volatility, potential for public protests, and the possibility that the military—whose role is enshrined in the 2017 Constitution—could intervene if the political climate degrades.

The opposition has already voiced concerns that an early election could be used as a “political game” to “lock in a favourable outcome for the ruling coalition.” In a press release linked by Reuters, the Democrat Party’s secretary general warned: “The dissolution of parliament is not a democratic solution; it is a political manoeuvre that undermines the will of the people.” He also called for the immediate “reopening of parliamentary committees” and for the passage of the budget “without undue delay.”

Historical precedent and public reaction

Thailand’s political history is punctuated by frequent dissolutions. The most recent precedent dates back to the 2019 parliamentary dissolution, which followed a military coup that overthrew the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. The dissolution in 2019 was criticized by international observers for eroding democratic norms. According to a historical overview linked in the Reuters article, the Thai parliament has been dissolved 12 times since 1946, most of them in the context of political crises.

Public opinion remains divided. A poll conducted by the Thailand Institute for Policy Research (TIPR) on August 28 found that 54 % of respondents were “neutral or undecided” about an early election, while 21 % supported it and 25 % opposed it. The poll highlighted concerns over “economic stability” and “government legitimacy” as key factors influencing public sentiment.

What’s next?

The Thai prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, has not yet publicly confirmed whether he will follow through on the dissolution. He is scheduled to meet with the King next week to discuss the political situation. Meanwhile, the opposition is preparing to file a motion of no confidence against the budget, which, if successful, could trigger the dissolution process.

The Thai constitution’s Article 4.6 will be the legal backdrop for any move to dissolve parliament. The next few weeks will determine whether the Pheu Thai coalition’s threat becomes a reality or whether a negotiated compromise can be reached. As the nation watches, the stakes for Thailand’s democratic trajectory have never been higher.