Thailand's opposition People's Party leader, Natthapong Ruengpanyawut, said on 1/7 that the public needs a stable, focused, legitimate, and trustworthy government to address the challenges facing the country, including tariff disputes with the US and border tensions with Cambodia.

"Our country cannot have a government that fully meets such criteria without holding a new election. It is also the best solution to the current crisis by returning power to the people, the owners of the country," he said.

The proposal comes after the Constitutional Court of Thailand suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on 1/7 pending an investigation into her 15/6 phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.

According to Natthapong, his party will utilize all legal mechanisms to push for a new election if the government refuses to dissolve the House. However, he emphasized that the People's Party does not support political factions using "legal warfare" to undermine each other, calling such tactics "undemocratic."

"There are no dead ends in a democracy unless some groups decide to push it to the limit, seize power undemocratically, and decide the future of the country in place of the people," he stressed.

Opposition People's Party leader in Thailand, Natthapong Ruengpanyawut. Photo: Khaosod

Opposition People's Party leader in Thailand, Natthapong Ruengpanyawut. Photo: Khaosod

The Constitutional Court suspended Paetongtarn after 36 senators, led by General Sawat Tassana, chairman of the Senate Defense Committee, filed a petition in late June accusing the prime minister of "serious ethical violations" and undermining national sovereignty by calling and speaking privately with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.

Former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai party was dismissed by the Constitutional Court in 8/2024 for alleged ethical violations.

Thailand's 500-member House of Representatives is directly elected through a general election with a 4-year term. After the general election, the 500 members of the House, along with 250 senators, vote to elect a new prime minister and form a government.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn came to power in 9/2024 after forming an 11-party coalition led by the Pheu Thai party. However, after the recording of the phone call with Hun Sen was leaked, the second-largest party in the coalition, Bhumjaithai (BJT), withdrew. With BJT's withdrawal, Paetongtarn's coalition holds 261 seats in the House, while the opposition has 234.

Huyen Le (Nation Thailand, AFP)