Thai king dissolves parliament ahead of election

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua has endorsed a royal decree to dissolve the lower house of parliament, an announcement published in the Royal Gazette said on Friday, paving the way for a general election early next year.

The decree, countersigned by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, cited his administration's status as a "minority government" as the primary reason for the dissolution. "The appropriate solution is to dissolve the House of Representatives to hold a new general election... returning political decision-making power to the people," the decree said.

Under the Thai constitution, the Election Commission must hold a general election within 45 to 60 days following an endorsement of the royal decree.