Thai PM moves to dissolve parliament to ‘return power to the people’

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has moved to dissolve parliament late Thursday (Dec. 11), paving the way for elections earlier than previously planned.

In a Facebook post, Anutin said he was taking steps to “return power to the people”.

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn later endorsed the decree, the official Royal Gazette announced on Friday (Dec. 12).

This means that elections must be held within 45 to 60 days.

"No ceasefire"

The move comes after the opposition People’s Party expressed its intention to submit a no-confidence vote against Anutin on Friday, local media Khaosod reported.

It follows days of escalating tension at the Thai-Cambodian border, threatening a U.S.-brokered peace deal.

Thailand and Cambodia had signed an expanded peace agreement in October on the sidelines of the 47th Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur, in Trump’s presence.

Trump said he was scheduled to speak to leaders of both countries regarding the conflict, Reuters reported.

Ahead of the call with Trump, Anutin has publicly expressed his stance of “no ceasefire”.

Top image via AFP