Thailand’s Ruling Party Seeks Snap Election as Opposition Backs Rival PM Candidate

 

Thailand’s political crisis depened on Wednesday after the ruling Pheu Thai party announced it was seeking royal approval to dissolve parliament and call a snap election. The move came just minutes after the opposition People’s Party declared it would back Bhumjaithai party leader Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister, potentially reshaping the balance of power in the legislature.

Pheu Thai has been scrambling to hold onto power since Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was removed from office last week by the Constitutional Court for an ethics violation. Paetongtarn, daughter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, became the sixth Shinawatra-linked leader in two decades to be ousted by the military or judiciary, highlighting Thailand’s ongoing cycle of political instability.

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Her dismissal left Pheu Thai clinging to a fragile coalition with only a narrow majority. Meanwhile, its former partner Bhumjaithai quickly mounted a challenge to lead its own government. The decision by the People’s Party, which holds nearly a third of the lower house seats, to back Bhumjaithai has further weakened Pheu Thai’s chances of staying in power.

The move for dissolution underscores the party’s dwindling support, as street protests against its rule have grown in recent weeks. Legal experts remain divided over whether a caretaker government can legally dissolve parliament.

The political showdown has intensified fears of renewed instability in Thailand. The People’s Party leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, explained that his party would support Bhumjaithai’s Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister but would not join his government. He argued that Thailand needed to avoid the return of a coalition he said had failed over the past two years and warned against the possibility of Prayuth Chan-ocha’s comeback. Prayuth, the general who seized power in the 2014 coup, remains eligible to serve as prime minister despite retiring from the military.

Parliament could hold a vote on a new premier as early as Friday, though the outcome is uncertain given the fractured alliances. The People’s Party’s decision has been described as a potential game-changer, as its large bloc could swing the balance in Anutin’s favor.

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Pheu Thai, once Thailand’s dominant populist force under the Shinawatra family, now faces one of its most serious challenges in years. Its move to dissolve the house may be an attempt to reset the political playing field, though it risks deepening divisions if challenged in court. As the country braces for another dramatic shift in leadership, the struggle reflects the enduring clash between Thailand’s old political elites and reformist forces.