Thailand’s Political Standoff Sharpens as Dissolution Debate Heats Up
Thailand has slipped back into political limbo after the Constitutional Court removed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office last week. The court ruled her phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen violated ministerial ethics, marking yet another blow to the Shinawatra family’s political dynasty.
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai is now leading the country in a caretaker role, while rival parties battle for control in a parliament split down the middle. At stake is not just the premiership, but the constitutional question dominating headlines: can a caretaker prime minister dissolve parliament and call snap elections?
Pheu Thai vs Bhumjaithai: The Fight for Power
Two parties are leading the charge to replace Paetongtarn.
Pheu Thai Party, still aligned with the Shinawatra clan, is considering veteran politician Chaikasem Nitisiri as its candidate for prime minister.
Bhumjaithai Party, once a coalition partner but now a rival, is pushing its leader Anutin Charnvirakul as a contender, backed by parts of the political establishment.
Neither camp has the numbers to govern alone. That makes the People’s Party, the largest bloc in parliament, the kingmaker in Thailand’s political crisis.
People’s Party’s Four Demands
The People’s Party has issued clear conditions before it will back any candidate for prime minister. Its four demands are:
Dissolution of Parliament – No support for any candidate without a firm pledge to dissolve the House.
Snap Elections – A new general election must be held within four months.
Constitutional Referendum – A public vote to rewrite Thailand’s 2017 military-drafted constitution.
No Coalition Role – The People’s Party will not take cabinet posts; it wants only to reset the system.
With nearly a third of parliamentary seats, the People’s Party’s demands are now the decisive factor in whether Thailand forms a new government or faces another general election.
The Constitutional Fault Line
The People’s Party’s call for dissolution has triggered a heated legal debate.
The 2017 Constitution states that dissolution of parliament is a royal prerogative, exercised on the advice of a sitting prime minister. Critics argue that an acting or caretaker prime minister lacks legitimacy to make such a request.
“The authority lies with a prime minister who commands the confidence of the House,” one legal adviser to the Council of State said. “A caretaker prime minister cannot dissolve parliament.”
Yet some see grey areas. Legal veteran Visanu Krue-ngam has argued that if a royal decree is issued and signed, its constitutionality could not be challenged. In practice, that means the palace’s assent could override the current vacuum at the top.
What Happens Next in Thailand
Parliament is expected to meet in the coming days to vote on a new prime minister. If no candidate secures majority support, pressure for dissolution will only intensify — regardless of the legal hurdles.
The crisis has already unsettled markets and revived memories of Thailand’s long cycle of political resets. For the Shinawatra family, it is a familiar story: Paetongtarn now joins her father Thaksin Shinawatra and her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra, both of whom were ousted through judicial or constitutional means.
Whether Thailand navigates this moment through compromise in parliament or heads into another contested election, one fact remains: the country’s political divisions are as deep as ever.