Caretaker PM Phumtham Wechayachai. Picture courtesy of Amarin TV
 

The Thai House of Representatives will vote on a new prime minister this Friday, following the Privy Council's return of a dissolution request from caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha confirmed the vote date amidst political turbulence. The Privy Council cited procedural and legal flaws, blocking the bid for early elections by returning the draft royal decree.

 

Caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham aimed to dissolve the House, following the ouster of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. However, the Privy Council's rejection dashes the Pheu Thai Party's hopes of an early election. The Council deemed the dissolution decree non-compliant and legally problematic, according to details shared by a source at Government House.

 

Phumtham remained tight-lipped on the Privy Council's decision as he exited Government House on Wednesday evening. His submission to the dissolution decree was meant to break a political deadlock but has now hit a roadblock. The Privy Council's role in vetting such crucial documents is underscored by their advisory position to His Majesty the King.

 

The decree's return is a setback, especially with the legal opinion of Council of State secretary-general Pakorn Nilprapunt highlighting the limitations of a caretaker government's powers. The Secretariat of the Cabinet has conveyed the Privy Council's decision to Phumtham, along with the requisite correspondence.

 

If dissolution fails, Friday's vote could propel Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party into the prime ministerial seat, aided by the 143-member People’s Party. Their support hinges on conditions: the new government must dissolve the House within four months after presenting its policy and potentially hold a referendum on constitutional amendments, reported the Bangkok Post.

 

The upcoming vote marks a critical juncture in Thailand's political landscape. The outcome will shape the country's governance, determining whether a stable government can emerge from the ongoing political impasse. Observers will be keenly watching Friday's proceedings as Thailand's political future hangs in the balance.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-09-04

 

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

If dissolution fails, Friday's vote could propel Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party into the prime ministerial seat, aided by the 143-member People’s Party. Their support hinges on conditions: the new government must dissolve the House within four months after presenting its policy and potentially hold a referendum on constitutional amendments, reported the Bangkok Post.

Most likely outcome... bye bye Thaksin

6 hours ago, webfact said:

the Privy Council's rejection dashes the Pheu Thai Party's hopes of an early election

Who is in the Privy Council? Prayut

Who does Thaksin want as PM? Prayut

 

 

41 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

Who is in the Privy Council? Prayut

 

 

He's a member of the council.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Their support hinges on conditions: the new government must dissolve the House within four months

 

Well, how can they guarantee they will meet this condition since we just learned today that the Privyy Council has the authority (apparently) to overrule the government 🙄

16 minutes ago, ryxyz said:

He's a member of the council.

Is he in it, or on it? Maybe he is in on it! 

People's party alliance with Anutin? Will cost them votes in the next general election for sure 8-) 

This is a horrible time to become Prime Minister with everything that is going on in Thailand. Glad Auntin looks like the guy to step in now and I’m sure it’ll be messy for awhile. Hopefully the People Party will be able to clinch the election next year. 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

If dissolution fails, Friday's vote could propel Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party into the prime ministerial seat, aided by the 143-member People’s Party. Their support hinges on conditions: the new government must dissolve the House within four months

 

And what if the privy council blocks that dissolution as well?

1 hour ago, SABloke said:

 

Well, how can they guarantee they will meet this condition since we just learned today that the Privyy Council has the authority (apparently) to overrule the government 🙄

only an acting PM, so limited in powers

1 hour ago, Sydebolle said:

People's party alliance with Anutin? Will cost them votes in the next general election for sure 8-) 

As I understand it, they are only doing that to secure a general election.

46 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

And what if the privy council blocks that dissolution as well?

Doesn't matter so much I guess, as someone posted other day, the timeline is not much earlier than the scheduled general election next year anyway

2 hours ago, ryxyz said:

He's a member of the council.

The head of the council is Surayud 

Also Ex coup leader and known Thailand hater 

Legally caretaker government has no authority to dissolve an elected sitting parliament 

7 minutes ago, banyanman said:

As I understand it, they are only doing that to secure a general election.

It will backfire in their naive faces 

PP lacks experience 

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Their support hinges on conditions: the new government must dissolve the House within four months

a lot of things can happen in 4 months, we are talking about Thailand, Anutin is not trust worth and he will not dissolve the house and then PP has nothing to force him to do so, Thai politics and Anutin go well together

37 minutes ago, MarkBR said:

only an acting PM, so limited in powers

 

Doesn't matter: the king has the power and right to deny the government's request NOT the Privy Council - as an advisory body they could inform the king that the acting PM does not have the right to ask for dissolution and then the king could deny the motion. 

9 hours ago, webfact said:

 Caretaker PM Phumtham Wechayachai. Picture courtesy of Amarin TV
 

The Thai House of Representatives will vote on a new prime minister this Friday, following the Privy Council's return of a dissolution request from caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha confirmed the vote date amidst political turbulence. The Privy Council cited procedural and legal flaws, blocking the bid for early elections by returning the draft royal decree.

 

Caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham aimed to dissolve the House, following the ouster of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. However, the Privy Council's rejection dashes the Pheu Thai Party's hopes of an early election. The Council deemed the dissolution decree non-compliant and legally problematic, according to details shared by a source at Government House.

 

Phumtham remained tight-lipped on the Privy Council's decision as he exited Government House on Wednesday evening. His submission to the dissolution decree was meant to break a political deadlock but has now hit a roadblock. The Privy Council's role in vetting such crucial documents is underscored by their advisory position to His Majesty the King.

 

The decree's return is a setback, especially with the legal opinion of Council of State secretary-general Pakorn Nilprapunt highlighting the limitations of a caretaker government's powers. The Secretariat of the Cabinet has conveyed the Privy Council's decision to Phumtham, along with the requisite correspondence.

 

If dissolution fails, Friday's vote could propel Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party into the prime ministerial seat, aided by the 143-member People’s Party. Their support hinges on conditions: the new government must dissolve the House within four months after presenting its policy and potentially hold a referendum on constitutional amendments, reported the Bangkok Post.

 

The upcoming vote marks a critical juncture in Thailand's political landscape. The outcome will shape the country's governance, determining whether a stable government can emerge from the ongoing political impasse. Observers will be keenly watching Friday's proceedings as Thailand's political future hangs in the balance.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-09-04

 

 

Yet the Privy Council, including Prayuth (who led the last military coup) seems to have no problems accepting any illegal military coup.

 

Nor did the Privy Council abolish the last constitution and get a new one written.

 

There are too many fingers in the pie of dissolution and elections.

 

IMHO most of them are unnecessary and seem to be just "jobs for the boys".

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Most likely outcome... bye bye Thaksin

IMHO, other than yet another military coup in a long line of military coups, Anutin  and the BJT party are the worst thing that can happen to Thailand.

2 hours ago, SABloke said:

 

Well, how can they guarantee they will meet this condition since we just learned today that the Privyy Council has the authority (apparently) to overrule the government 🙄

No, the Thai Privy Council does not have the authority to override the government; it serves as a body of appointed advisors to the

Monarchy of Thailand and plays a role in the succession of the throne and acting as Regent in specific circumstances, but its functions are advisory and preparatory rather than a form of governmental control or power to override the government itself. 

All of this merely confirms just how irrelevant democratic  elections are in Thailand.

1 hour ago, MarkBR said:

only an acting PM, so limited in powers

In is the same in many democracies, the acting or caretaker Prime Minister has limited powers.

45 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

No, the Thai Privy Council does not have the authority to override the government; it serves as a body of appointed advisors to the

Monarchy of Thailand and plays a role in the succession of the throne and acting as Regent in specific circumstances, but its functions are advisory and preparatory rather than a form of governmental control or power to override the government itself. 

 

I know - but they did anyway. 🙄

No surprise, the fix has been in with the Establishment to get rid of PT for months. It really kicked off and became obvious with the carefully engineered border thing. The Thai establishment always gets what it wants. An election by December? Right..and even if there was one, and the People's Party stormed to a majority the courts or the armed henchmen would find some dubious way to put an end to it one way or another.

9 minutes ago, SABloke said:

 

I know - but they did anyway. 🙄

quote we just learned today that the Privyy Council has the authority (apparently) to overrule the government 🙄

 

The Privyy Council does not have the authority  to over rule the government,    The Council deemed the dissolution decree non-compliant and legally problematic, which is there job role in vetting such crucial documents is underscored by their advisory position to His Majesty the King.

you need to read the post 

Troll post removed 

@connda

Nothing in Thai politics is black and white. Too many folk with fingers in the pie to ever get a decision made promptly. As long as this ridiculous system exists Thai politics will never ever develop into a modern democracy. 

The Shinawatra camp is clearly in panic mode, they'll probably see their party dissolved in time for the next election at this rate.