Thai royals reject acting premier’s bid to dissolve parliament for snap polls

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

Phumtham confirmed the setback, adding that the government would review and reconsider the matter to ensure its correctness.

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

On Tuesday, Paetongtarn lodged a legal challenge to the Constitutional Court’s ruling that forced her removal. The court found she had violated ethical standards by criticizing a senior Thai commander during a phone call with Cambodian leader Hun Sen amid border tensions.

The court had already suspended her last month while deliberating the case.

The episode has deepened turbulence in Thailand’s political system, which has seen repeated confrontations between elected governments and the judiciary since the 2006 ouster of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.