Thai Parliament Dissolves to Head Off No-Confidence Vote |
Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at political turmoil in Thailand, the European Union indefinitely freezing Russian assets, and the resignation of Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul formally dissolved Parliament on Friday in an effort to head off a threatened no-confidence vote by the opposition People’s Power Party (PPP), which held a majority of seats. Triggering snap elections just three months into Anutin’s term raises the specter of more political turmoil in a country that is already prone to rapid premiership turnover and currently engaged in deadly clashes with neighboring Cambodia.
Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at political turmoil in Thailand, the European Union indefinitely freezing Russian assets, and the resignation of Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.
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Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul formally dissolved Parliament on Friday in an effort to head off a threatened no-confidence vote by the opposition People’s Power Party (PPP), which held a majority of seats. Triggering snap elections just three months into Anutin’s term raises the specter of more political turmoil in a country that is already prone to rapid premiership turnover and currently engaged in deadly clashes with neighboring Cambodia.
Anutin announced his intention to dissolve the House of Representatives late Thursday, writing that he was “returning power to the people.” King Vajiralongkorn approved the request just hours later. However, critics have argued that the maneuver was merely a way for Anutin to avoid impeachment after the PPP accused him of reneging on a promise to dissolve parliament within four months and organize a constitutional referendum in exchange for the party’s support in September’s election.
Anutin, though, maintains that he honored the pact, saying: “You voted for me to be the prime minister and are now saying you do not support me anymore and ask me to dissolve parliament. I just did what you asked.”
Bangkok must now hold a snap election within 45 to 60 days. In the meantime, Anutin will oversee a caretaker government with limited power that lacks the........