Description: Thailand’s ruling Monarchy has rejected the proposal outlined by the interim Pheu Thai government for dissolving the Parliament and calling general elections. Interim Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, stated that he was informed by Thailand’s Office of the Privy Council, that Pheu Thai’s proposal was rejected as the proposal was currently inappropriate to be presented to His Majesty the King at this time considering the country’s political turmoil. The decision arrives only a day before Thailand’s Parliament is set to vote for a new Prime Minister, with the influential People’s Party siding with the conservative Bhumjaithai to nominate former interior minister, Anutin Charnvirakul as the country’s next Prime Minister. Anutin is widely expected to become Thailand’s new Prime Minister, being backed by the People’s Party, however, general elections in the country would also be held in the next couple of months, raising concerns that the political crisis in the country could expand.
Impact: The refusal by Thailand’s royal office marks the monarchy’s distancing relations with the once powerful Pheu Thai party and suggest a surging transformation in Thailand’s political landscape. The People’s Party emergence as a major power broker in the country would empower the conservative Bhumjaithai and their candidate, Anutin Charnvirakul in becoming a dominant political force expected to deliver stability and progress and adequately tackle Thailand’s domestic and foreign issues. The People’s Party has supported the Bhumjaithai under the condition of delivering expedient elections in order to preserve Thailand’s democracy. Elections would most probably be called in the next couple of months which would mark the final downfall of the Pheu Thai, and the emergence of a new political bloc comprised of the People’s Party and the Bhumjaithai. Renewed political tensions aren’t expected at this time, however, the conditioned support by the People’s Party for the Bhumjaithai could reinvent internal coalitionary tensions.