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Thailand's ruling party seeks snap election to thwart rival's PM bid

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, September 3rd 2025 at 6:02 GMT by reuters.com
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Thailand’s Ruling Party Calls for a Snap Election to Block Opposition Prime‑Minister Bid

In a dramatic turn that could reshape the country’s political landscape, Thailand’s ruling coalition announced on Thursday that it would hold a snap general election within 180 days. The move is aimed at thwarting an opposition coalition that had been working to elect a new prime minister (PM) following the 2023 general election, a development that would have ended the ruling party’s grip on power.

The decision comes after a tense month of political maneuvering. In early July, the opposition coalition—formed by the Democrat Party, the Thai Liberal Democrats, the Social Democratic Party, the Progress Party, and a handful of smaller groups—managed to secure a coalition of 48 seats in the 500‑member House of Representatives. That coalition had pledged to nominate a PM who would command a majority in the lower house. The opposition’s plan was to use the newly elected MPs to elect a PM in parliament, thereby bypassing the ruling coalition’s support for the incumbent PM, Srettha Thavisin.

Srettha, the leader of the Pheu Thai Party, was elected PM in the 2023 election after the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PP) formed a coalition with Pheu Thai. The PP had won 38 seats, the Democrats 31, and the Pheu Thai 31, giving the ruling coalition a 60‑seat majority. Srettha’s election was a compromise that saw him step in as the party that could command a majority in a hung parliament. He had survived a no‑confidence motion in April, after which the PP threatened to call a snap election to secure its mandate.

The opposition’s bid to elect a new PM has its roots in a parliamentary vote that took place last month. According to Reuters’ “Thailand’s opposition coalition pushes for new PM” story, the opposition’s candidate was a former MP who had served as Minister of Tourism and Sports. The opposition’s campaign was framed as a democratic push to break the ruling party’s stranglehold on the country’s political institutions.

In response, the PP announced a snap election on Thursday, citing the need to “restore stability” and “protect the democratic process.” In a statement, PP leader Piyong Pinyan said the party would be “prepared to hold a new election” if the opposition coalition failed to secure the necessary support. The party’s statement also highlighted that the opposition’s plan “contravened constitutional norms” because it would be carried out by a minority coalition in the face of the ruling party’s majority.

The ruling party’s move is not the first time Thailand’s military‑backed politicians have used a snap election to secure their position. After the 2014 coup, the military-led junta staged a general election in 2019 that was widely criticized for being heavily tilted in favor of the pro‑military Palang Pracharath Party. The 2023 election, although formally democratic, was marred by accusations of voter intimidation, and the opposition parties have long complained about the dominance of the military in the political process.

Analysts say that the ruling party’s decision to hold a snap election is both a strategic calculation and a signal to its base. “The ruling party is using the election as a tool to regain a larger majority,” says political scientist Dr. Kanyalak Siriluck of Chulalongkorn University. “If they can pull off a victory, they can sideline the opposition’s attempts to form a new coalition.” She added that the opposition, meanwhile, must rally its supporters and mobilize voters in a short period of time.

Srettha, who has served as a minister in previous administrations, has vowed to defend the constitution and to continue his reforms. “The country needs a stable government,” he said in a televised interview. “If the opposition can prove they have a majority, the parliament will elect them. We respect the constitution.” He added that a snap election would undermine the will of the people, who had just voted in the 2023 election.

The move comes at a time of economic uncertainty. Thailand’s growth has slowed in recent years, and the COVID‑19 pandemic has taken a toll on the tourism sector, a vital part of the economy. The opposition coalition’s platform includes measures to boost tourism, reform the pension system, and strengthen social safety nets. The ruling party, on the other hand, has promised to maintain stability and to attract foreign investment.

The outcome of the snap election will be decided by a turnout that could see a significant number of voters in rural areas and islands. While the ruling coalition expects support from the military and the business community, the opposition relies on its coalition’s ability to mobilize the younger generation and to tap into the growing discontent among those who see the current system as undemocratic.

The political drama in Thailand is far from over. The next 180 days will see a flurry of campaign activity, debates, and potentially more twists as both sides try to win over the country’s diverse electorate. For now, the ruling party’s snap election is a bold move to secure its place at the top of Thailand’s political hierarchy and to block an opposition attempt to elect a new prime minister.