MPs attend a House meeting to vote for the new prime minister on Sept 5, 2025. Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnivakul won the vote with the backing of the main opposition People’s Party. (File photo: Chanat Katanyu)

The Royal Gazette has published a royal decree announcing the dissolution of the House of Representatives, paving the way for a general election within 45-60 days.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Thursday submitted a draft royal decree seeking His Majesty the King’s approval to dissolve the House, and the royal approval was given on the same day.

According to the decree, the prime minister informed His Majesty that the government, which assumed office in Sept 2025, has been operating as a minority administration formed by several political parties but without a majority in the House. Its tenure has coincided with a period of significant challenges, including economic, social, and political uncertainties, shifts in international relations and global geopolitics, as well as ongoing unrest along the Thai-Cambodian border.

Despite these constraints, the government has accelerated efforts to address urgent national issues, restore stability and public order, and advance political reforms for the benefit of the people — including pushing for constitutional amendments and tackling pressing economic problems.

However, the decree notes that stable political conditions are essential to ensure effective governance. The government deemed it necessary to seek a fresh mandate from the public.

The dissolution of the House is an appropriate measure to restore political authority to the people as the supreme sovereign power by enabling a general election to be held as soon as possible.

The royal decree takes effect from the date of its publication in the Royal Gazette. The House is dissolved and a new general election will be held on a date set by the Election Commission (EC), no sooner than 45 days and no later than 60 days from the effectiveness of the decree.

The EC chairman is tasked with enforcing the decree, which is countersigned by Mr Anutin.

On Thursday night, Mr Anutin announced the House dissolution. He posted on his Facebook page shortly after 10pm, saying he is “returning power to the people’’.

He announcement coincided with the joint sitting of parliament voting on a condition for the passage of a constitutional amendment bill.

The joint sitting approved the condition that a charter amendment bill could be passed with a majority vote from the joint-sitting parliament, provided at least one-third of senators participated in the vote.

The constitutional amendment was a stipulation set by the 2023 election winner, the People’s Party (PP), in exchange for its support of Mr Anutin’s minority government, which succeeded the Paetongtarn Shinawatra administration.

As the joint sitting leaned towards allowing one-third of senators to influence the future of the constitutional amendment, sources indicated that the opposition PP planned a censure motion against Mr Anutin’s administration.