BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that a decree to dissolve parliament was ready, but kept the timing of the move deliberately open.
Decree ready, timing still undecided
Reporters gathered outside parliament on Wednesday morning and pressed the prime minister with the question of whether the royal decree to dissolve the House had already been prepared. In response, Anutin did not speak but gave a clear nod, signalling that the document that would trigger new elections was complete. Asked whether the previously mentioned date of 31 January still applied, he replied only that
“That lies within the authority of the prime minister.”
said Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister.
Election strategy and “political poker”
The premier acknowledged that dissolution could come before 31 January, saying,
“Yes, we are waiting to see the situation and the right time.”
said Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister. His remarks confirmed what political observers had suspected: that he was engaged in a kind of political poker, seeking the most favourable moment for his Bhumjaithai Party. Each additional day he waited was presented as calculated strategy, heightening tension in Bangkok’s political scene.
Criticism over focus during border tensions
At the same time, the prime minister came under fire from critics who accused him of prioritising campaigning in the midst of a tense border conflict with Cambodia. They complained that Anutin had already announced election candidates at a party gathering instead of focusing on national security. Reacting irritably, the premier hit back, saying his detractors were
“unemployed people who engage in unconstructive politics.”
said Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister.
Sharp words for political opponents
Anutin escalated his response, adding that
“Those who criticised this are people who still cannot make up their minds after losing their government positions.”
said Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister. The dispute reflected a familiar pattern in Thai politics, with the government concentrating on the election campaign while the opposition accused it of neglecting the affairs of state. For the public, it meant an extended political tug-of-war and continued uncertainty over the exact election date.
High stakes for Thailand’s next election
The completed dissolution decree indicated that new elections were unavoidable and likely very close. Control over the precise timing remained Anutin’s strongest lever, allowing him to potentially wrong-foot the opposition or deflect attention from unwelcome issues. Political machinery across Thailand was already running at full speed, as the country’s next election campaign stood on the verge of formally beginning.