Thailand dissolves Parliament with immediate effect

UPDATE

Thailand‘s Parliament has been dissolved with immediate effect upon an announcement published today in the Royal Gazette.

His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun of Thailand endorsed the dissolution of the House of Representatives, kicking off the election season.

The Election Committee (EC) has tentatively set the date of the election for May 7, 2023, but this will be confirmed later this week. The EC is required to confirm the date within five days.

The election must take place between 45 and 60 days following today’s dissolution of Parliament.

Voting is compulsory in Thailand. More than 52 million people are required to vote in the upcoming election, where coup leader PM Prayut seeks to extend his tenure for two more years.

Voters will elect 500 members to the lower house in a two-ballot system. Then, 100 seats will be allocated based on the…