Thailand’s parliament is likely to be dissolved today after the prime minister said he requested the king do so by royal decree, an essential step in paving the way for the next general election.
Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha drafted the decree for royal endorsement on Friday. The dissolution of parliament however will be effective once the decree is published in the Royal Gazette, which is expected today.
Wissanu Kreau-ngam, deputy prime minister, confirmed this morning that the decree should be published today. Asked by reporters if that meant Election Day would fall on May 7 or May 14, Wissanu only replied “around that time.”
An election must take place within 60 days after parliament is dissolved.
A May election would come almost exactly nine years after Prayuth, the former army commander, seized power in a coup d’etat and ruled as dictator up until 2019. He was made prime minister after that election under rules written by the military to secure its power.
Among the competitors he will face for the premiership is likely to be Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
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