It must happen 45 to 60 days after the dissolution of the home, which takes effect immediately.
“This is the rapid return of political decision-making power to citizens so that they can continue their democratic rule with the king as head of state,” the decree said.
The election date has not yet been announced, but Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said earlier within the day that they might likely be held on May 14 if the home is dissolved on Monday.
In January, Prayut announced he would seek one other term as prime minister within the United Thai Nation Party, a bunch formed by veteran politicians that he joined this month.
Dissolving parliament will give 68-year-old Prayut more time to campaign and recruit members for his latest party. Completing the term of office of the lower house would prevent some politicians who’ve modified parties in recent weeks from running within the elections.
Prayut staged a coup to overthrow the civilian government in May 2014 while he was army chief and later became interim prime minister of the military-led government. He returned to power under a civilian government after the 2019 elections, when he belonged to the present ruling Palang Pracharath party.
But even when he’s re-elected as prime minister, his term might be limited to 2 years in comparison with the structure’s eight-year term limit. The Constitutional Tribunal ruled that it ought to be counted from April 2017, when the present structure was adopted.
Prayuth’s government will take over interim duties until a brand new cabinet is sworn in in early August, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said.
On Friday, Paetongtarn expressed confidence that she would win the election in a landslide, a move geared toward stopping any political maneuvering against her party, which was previously faraway from office by court rulings and a military coup.
Additional reporting by Bloomberg, Kyodo
