Dec 12, 2025, 3:31 p.mDec 12, 2025, 3:31 p.m
Amid the renewed border conflict with Cambodia, the dissolution of the House of Representatives in Thailand has brought new political uncertainty.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who submitted the dissolution request, told reporters in Bangkok that his government remained able to act. The dissolution of Parliament will not affect how the conflict is handled.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.Image: EPA
He announced that he would speak to US President Donald Trump on the phone on Friday evening (local time) to inform him about the situation at the border. Meanwhile, fighting between the two neighboring countries continued.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn announced the dissolution, which is intended to pave the way for a new election. The move was justified by “current national requirements, international relations, economic challenges, social stability and the need to enable the country to take a new political direction,” as the official gazette stated. By law, elections must now take place within the next 60 days. Until then, the government will remain in office.
Unstable political situation
The political situation in Thailand has long been considered unstable, so the move itself was hardly surprising – but it came earlier than expected. Anutin, who was elected head of government by parliament just three months ago with the support of the largest opposition party, leads a minority government.
He had agreed with the opposition People’s Party that the lower house should be dissolved within four months. In Thailand it is the more powerful of the two parliamentary chambers – the Senate only has a control function and cannot be dissolved. “I am returning power to the people,” Charnvirakul wrote on his Facebook account.
Planned conversation with Trump
Regarding his planned conversation with Trump, Anutin said with regard to the border conflict that he wanted to bring the US President up to date. All decisions regarding military operations rest with the Thai government.
Demonstrators in Bangkok, wearing masks of Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, protest against a Thai-American deal on rare earths on December 2.Image: EPA
It was considered uncertain whether Trump would be able to achieve his self-proclaimed goal of persuading the two neighboring South Asian countries to return to a ceasefire. “Only when we believe that there are no longer any threats can we talk about steps that will lead to calm and a ceasefire,” Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow was quoted as saying by the local newspaper “The Nation”.
Days of fighting
Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia on several fronts along the border has been going on for several days. The background is a decades-long dispute over territorial claims. Both states accuse each other of first violating a ceasefire in the area along the approximately 800 kilometer long common border.
Thai soldiers transport armored vehicles.Image: EPA
The fighting has displaced more than 500,000 residents of the region and cost the lives of over 20 people, including several civilians. There were also hundreds injured as a result of the fighting.
People are on the run.Image: EPA
The two countries had already agreed to a ceasefire in July after heavy fighting. At the end of October, in the presence of Trump in Malaysia, they signed a joint declaration that laid out steps towards a lasting peace. But in November the agreed ceasefire was initially suspended after another incident at the border. The situation has worsened again since last Sunday. (sda/dpa)