In Thailand, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has dissolved parliament, paving the way for the planned new elections in May. This comes from an official statement published in the Royal Gazette yesterday.
The most likely date for the vote is May 7 or 14, the newspaper “Bangkok Post” reported, citing the election commission. The 500 seats in the House of Representatives will be up for grabs in the general election. The four-year legislative period ends in a few days.
The last election in the Southeast Asian kingdom was held in March 2019 – the first after the military coup in May 2014. Prayut Chan-o-cha, who led the coup as a general, emerged victorious and was elected for a second term confirmed as Prime Minister. However, the new constitution introduced under the military government gave him a clear advantage in the election.
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 with the opposition Pheu Thai party. The 36-year-old is the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Opportunities are also given to the chairman of the Move Forward party, Pita Limjaroenrat (42).
In the capital Bangkok there had been mass protests again and again in 2020. Among other things, the democracy movement called for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut, new elections and a reform of the constitution and the monarchy.
