Thai royals reject acting PM’s bid to dissolve parliament

Anadolu Agency

Thailand’s royal authority has blocked a move by acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai to dissolve parliament and call snap elections, citing legal concerns over his authority to submit such a request, local media reported on Wednesday.

Phumtham submitted a draft royal decree on Tuesday, but it was rejected due to questions over whether a deputy prime minister has the constitutional right to recommend the dissolution of the House, according to the Thai Enquirer.

Phumtham confirmed the setback, adding that the government would review and reconsider the matter to ensure it complies with legal requirements.

The announcement comes as House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha stated that parliament will elect a new prime minister on Friday to succeed Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was removed from office last week.

Paetongtarn lodged a legal challenge against the Constitutional Court’s ruling that forced her removal. The court had found she violated ethical standards by criticising a senior Thai commander during a phone call with Cambodian leader Hun Sen amid border tensions. She had been suspended last month while the case was under consideration.

The episode has further heightened political turbulence in Thailand, where repeated confrontations between elected governments and the judiciary have occurred since former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in 2006.

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