Thai PM dissolves parliament to 'return power to people'

Thailand has dissolved parliament after nearly a week of fresh clashes along its border with Cambodia, with a general election to be called within 45 to 60 days.

In a decree published on Friday, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul cited the deadly border dispute among other challenges his minority government has struggled to contain since it took office three months ago.

"The appropriate solution is to dissolve parliament… which is a way to return political power to the people," he said.

Anutin, a business tycoon, is Thailand's third prime minister since August 2023. When he took power in September, he had said he would dissolve parliament by the end of January.

However, now facing an imminent vote of no confidence, Anutin brought the election forward.

He has also been criticised for his handling of a serious flood in southern Thailand last month.