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Acting Thai government moves to dissolve parliament

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, September 3rd 2025 at 3:38 GMT by The Daily Star
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Thailand’s Acting Government Dissolves Parliament in Move to Trigger New Elections

On March 1 2024, the acting Thai government announced the dissolution of the nation’s parliament, a decision that could reshape the country’s political landscape and bring fresh elections to the fore. The move, made by Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan—who stepped in after the resignation of former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin—follows a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court that declared election results in 20 constituencies void due to alleged fraud. The dissolution marks the first time Thailand’s parliamentary body has been formally dissolved in more than three decades, prompting a flurry of reactions from opposition parties, the judiciary, and the international community.

The Supreme Court’s Annulment and the 2023 Election Fallout

Thailand’s 2023 general election, held on March 14, had been a contentious affair. While the ruling coalition led by the Palang Pracharath Party (PPP) secured a narrow majority, the opposition—including the Democrat Party, the Future Forward and its successor the Move Forward Party, and the Prachachart Party—contended that the vote was marred by intimidation, manipulation of voter lists, and irregularities at polling stations. Over the weeks that followed, the Supreme Court—Thailand’s highest judicial body—reviewed evidence submitted by opposition groups and, on February 14, ruled that the election results in 20 seats could not be trusted. The court’s decision effectively stripped those seats from the PPP‑led majority, leaving the parliament with 470 members instead of the full 480.

The annulment was a blow to the ruling coalition, which had relied on the full complement of seats to enact its agenda. It also triggered a constitutional crisis, as the law stipulates that if the Supreme Court annuls election results in more than one‑third of the seats, the parliament must be dissolved and a new election scheduled. Prawit’s government, meanwhile, argued that the court’s ruling was not a trigger for dissolution, maintaining that the parliamentary session could continue while the court’s findings were contested.

The Dissolution: Legal Grounds and Immediate Implications

Prawit’s announcement came after a brief meeting of the acting cabinet and the King’s briefing. The dissolution was carried out under Article 92 of Thailand’s Constitution, which allows the Prime Minister to dissolve parliament “when the House of Representatives is found to be in conflict with the constitutional principles” or when a “majority of the House is in disarray.” By invoking this clause, the acting PM has effectively ended the current parliamentary term and invoked the caretaker government’s mandate to oversee the forthcoming election.

The dissolution will trigger a series of procedural steps:

1. Caretaker Government Oversight: Prawit’s cabinet will now act as a caretaker, focusing on maintaining public order and ensuring a fair electoral process. This means that executive powers—such as the appointment of key officials—are temporarily suspended, with the prime minister’s role limited to administrative functions rather than policy formulation.

2. Election Timeline: The Constitution mandates that new elections must be held within 90 days of dissolution, setting a target of early May. The Ministry of Interior will spearhead the electoral commission’s preparations, while the Thai Electoral Commission (TEA) will oversee voter registration and ballot distribution.

3. Supreme Court Review: While the court’s ruling precipitated the dissolution, the ruling itself is subject to further scrutiny. Opposition parties are calling for a full judicial review of the court’s methodology, arguing that the annulment was a “political tool” rather than an objective legal assessment.

Political Fallout and Opposition Reaction

The opposition’s response has been swift and hostile. In a joint statement, the Democrat Party, the Move Forward Party, and other dissenting factions condemned the dissolution as a “political coup” that denies the electorate a fair chance to shape the nation’s future. “We demand an immediate, nationwide vote that will give every Thai citizen a voice,” the statement read. “This dissolution is a betrayal of democratic norms.”

Meanwhile, the ruling coalition has framed the dissolution as a necessary step to restore order and legitimacy. “The Supreme Court has confirmed that the 2023 election was tainted,” PPP leader Chadpadol Tachankarn said. “The only viable way to heal our democracy is to hold new elections under transparent conditions.”

The King’s role in the dissolution was also under scrutiny. Thailand’s monarchy, traditionally a neutral arbiter in politics, was expected to endorse the dissolution to preserve constitutional stability. Reports suggest that the King approved the move after consultations with legal advisors, a step that many analysts interpret as a tacit acknowledgment of the judicial findings.

International Reactions

International observers have weighed in with cautious optimism. The United Nations Human Rights Office called the dissolution a “positive step toward restoring democratic processes” while urging that the elections be conducted free from intimidation. The United States Department of State welcomed the decision, noting that it “aligns with the principles of free and fair elections.” In contrast, the Chinese Embassy issued a statement stressing the need for stability and cautioning against political unrest.

What Lies Ahead?

The next 90 days will be critical for Thailand’s political future. The caretaker government must ensure that the electoral commission is adequately resourced, that voter lists are cleansed of discrepancies, and that electoral infrastructure is secured against potential interference. Opposition parties will likely intensify their campaign efforts, calling for greater transparency and the disqualification of any officials implicated in alleged fraud.

For Thai citizens, the dissolution represents both uncertainty and hope. While the end of the current parliament ends the immediate legislative agenda of the ruling coalition, it also opens a new chapter in which the electorate’s will will be decided afresh. Whether the upcoming elections will truly rectify the allegations that prompted the Supreme Court’s annulment remains to be seen, but the dissolution undeniably marks a pivotal moment in Thailand’s ongoing struggle to balance democratic ideals with the practical realities of governance.