Clear for new elections: the Prime Minister of Thailand dissolves parliament

This is according to an official statement published in the Royal Gazette on Monday. The most likely date for the vote is May 7 or May 14, the “Bangkok Post” newspaper reported Tuesday, citing the Election Commission. The 500 seats in the House of Representatives are at stake in the parliamentary elections. The four-year legislature will end in a few days.

The latest elections in the Southeast Asian kingdom were 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 to a second term , confirmed as Premier. However, the new constitution introduced under the military government gave him a clear advantage in the elections.

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 of the opposition Pheu Thai party. The 36-year-old is the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The chairman of the Move Forward party, Pita Limjaroenrat (42), will also be given opportunities.

In 2020, there were mass protests again and again in the capital Bangkok. Among other things, the democratic movement called for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut, new elections and a reform of the constitution and the monarchy. (sda/dpa)