It's a crucial day in Thailand's politics, the Parliament is set to hold a vote which will determine the country's next Prime Minister. The vote presents a crucial challenge for the front-runner Limjaroenrat as he needs support from the military-backed senators to bag that top spot.

Thailand Parliament holds vote for next PM, Limjaroenrat 'confident' on securing win

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Friday ordered dissolution of the parliament ahead of the all-important general election as the military leader seeks to extend his second term spanning eight years.

The PM issued a decree in this regard and it will be next sent to Thailand’s monarch&nbsp;for approval. It would take effect once it is published in the Royal Gazette, following which the election must be held in 45 to 60 days.

The Election Commission had initially suggested that the polling will take place on May 7, but final confirmation is yet to be made.

“I have prepared (the decree), we have to wait. &nbsp;We have to wait for the announcement in the Royal Gazette,” Prayuth told reporters in the northern city of Chiang Mai, according to Reuters news agency.

When asked when will the announcement be made, he responded, “We have to wait.”

This high-stakes election is significant for Prayuth’s political career who—after emerging as coup leader in 2014 and then being elected as civilian head—will find it difficult to extend his term as the constitutional will allow only two more years to be prime minister.

Prayuth had jumped the shift to the conservative United Thai Nation party after his previous party, the military-backed Palang Pracharath Party, decided to pick another prime minister candidate.

The stakes are high for Prayuth as he will be pitted against Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. The 36-year-old woman has dominated the opinion polls for months, emerging to be the top choice for Thailand’s next prime minister.

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Speaking on Friday at an event to introduce Pheu Thai’s candidates, she said that she was confident of winning the election by a landslide.

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Pheu Thai party’s previous administration has won every election in the past two decades, but their rule was cut short three times by judicial rulings or military takeovers.

“I have a strong hope that we can form a government for sure, that’s why we go ourselves to campaign about a landslide,” Paetongtarn said.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Friday ordered dissolution of the parliament ahead of the all-important general election as the military leader seeks to extend his second term spanning eight years.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Friday ordered dissolution of the parliament ahead of the all-important general election as the military leader seeks to extend his second term spanning eight years. The PM issued a decree in this regard and it will be next sent to Thailand’s monarch for approval. It would take effect once it is published in the Royal Gazette, following which the election must be held in 45 to 60 days. The Election Commission had initially suggested that the polling will take place on May 7, but final confirmation is yet to be made. “I have prepared (the decree), we have to wait. We have to wait for the announcement in the Royal Gazette,” Prayuth told reporters in the northern city of Chiang Mai, according to Reuters news agency. When asked when will the announcement be made, he responded, “We have to wait.” This high-stakes election is significant for Prayuth’s political career who—after emerging as coup leader in 2014 and then being elected as civilian head—will find it difficult to extend his term as the constitutional will allow only two more years to be prime minister. Prayuth had jumped the shift to the conservative United Thai Nation party after his previous party, the military-backed Palang Pracharath Party, decided to pick another prime minister candidate. The stakes are high for Prayuth as he will be pitted against Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. The 36-year-old woman has dominated the opinion polls for months, emerging to be the top choice for Thailand’s next prime minister. Also read | Putin, Xi to sign declaration as Russia-China ties enter 'new era': Kremlin Speaking on Friday at an event to introduce Pheu Thai’s candidates, she said that she was confident of winning the election by a landslide. Also read | After Poland, Slovakia to send 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to war-torn Ukraine Pheu Thai party’s previous administration has won every election in the past two decades, but their rule was cut short three times by judicial rulings or military takeovers. “I have a strong hope that we can form a government for sure, that’s why we go ourselves to campaign about a landslide,” Paetongtarn said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha orders dissolution of parliament, paving way for high-stakes elections

Thailand&#39;s parliament on Tuesday invited Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to become the next king, resolving lingering anxiety over his accession following his father&#39;s death last month.

The country has been plunged into mourning since widely revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej died on 13 October, ending a remarkable seven-decade reign and removing a key pillar of unity in a bitterly divided nation.

Tuesday&#39;s move ends a period of uncertainty sparked by the junta making the surprise announcement after Bhumibol&#39;s death that the prince had asked to delay his official proclamation so he could mourn.

&quot;I will invite the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to succeed to the throne and become king of the Thai people,&quot; Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, head of the rubber stamp National Legislative Assembly said.&nbsp;Lawmakers then stood up and replied: &quot;Long live the king&quot;.

The parliamentary endorsement came after Thailand&#39;s cabinet officially submitted Vajiralongkorn&#39;s name earlier in the day.

Prawit Wongsuwan, deputy prime minister and the junta&#39;s number two, said the prince&#39;s ascension was &quot;proceeding step-by-step&quot; according to the country&#39;s arcane succession rules.

According to protocol, the assembly speaker will now seek a royal audience with the prince to invite him to ascend the throne, the last step before being proclaimed the new monarch.

Prawit said that would likely happen &quot;either tomorrow or the day after&quot;.&nbsp;

Vajiralongkorn, 64, has been&nbsp;named the successor to Bhumibol for more than four decades.

He spends much of his time outside the kingdom, particularly in southern Germany where he owns property.

&nbsp;A military source told AFP the prince was still currently in Germany.He will soon inherit one of the world&#39;s richest monarchies, an institution protected by a tough royal defamation law.

That law makes open discussion about the royal family&#39;s role all but impossible inside the kingdom and convictions have skyrocketed since generals seized power in 2014.

Officially Thailand&#39;s monarch has limited constitutional power.

But over his seven-decade reign, Bhumibol built up a powerful network of alliances, especially within Thailand&#39;s military elite, and forged a reputation as an arbiter in times of crisis. Yet the late king has left his son with a sharply divided country.

Thailand&#39;s last decade has seen a cycle of political protests, coups by an arch-royalist military while inequality has deepened. Dubbed the &quot;lost decade&quot;, Thailand&#39;s most recent period of political unrest coincided with Bhumibol&#39;s increasingly frail health and fewer public appearances.

Vajiralongkorn, a certified pilot, has yet to achieve his father&#39;s widespread adoration.

Rumours over his private life have also trailed him. He has had three high-profile divorces, while a recent police corruption scandal linked to the family of his previous wife allowed the public a rare glimpse of palace affairs. Since Bhumibol&#39;s death, he has attended some of the daily funerary rites for his father but has made no public statements.

He has asked his younger sister, Princess Sirindhorn to oversee the organisation for Bhumibol&#39;s cremation, which will not take place until an official one year mourning period has ended.

Historically, the new monarch in Thailand is only crowned once the previous monarch is cremated.

In a letter to parliament on Tuesday, junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha said one million Thais have now travelled to the Grand Palace, where the king&#39;s body is being held ahead of cremation, to pay their respects.&nbsp;

(AFP)

The parliamentary endorsement came after Thailand's cabinet officially submitted Vajiralongkorn's name earlier in the day

Thailand's parliament on Tuesday invited Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to become the next king, resolving lingering anxiety over his accession following his father's death last month. The country has been plunged into mourning since widely revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej died on 13 October, ending a remarkable seven-decade reign and removing a key pillar of unity in a bitterly divided nation. Tuesday's move ends a period of uncertainty sparked by the junta making the surprise announcement after Bhumibol's death that the prince had asked to delay his official proclamation so he could mourn. "I will invite the Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to succeed to the throne and become king of the Thai people," Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, head of the rubber stamp National Legislative Assembly said. Lawmakers then stood up and replied: "Long live the king". The parliamentary endorsement came after Thailand's cabinet officially submitted Vajiralongkorn's name earlier in the day. Prawit Wongsuwan, deputy prime minister and the junta's number two, said the prince's ascension was "proceeding step-by-step" according to the country's arcane succession rules. According to protocol, the assembly speaker will now seek a royal audience with the prince to invite him to ascend the throne, the last step before being proclaimed the new monarch. Prawit said that would likely happen "either tomorrow or the day after". Vajiralongkorn, 64, has been named the successor to Bhumibol for more than four decades. He spends much of his time outside the kingdom, particularly in southern Germany where he owns property. A military source told AFP the prince was still currently in Germany.He will soon inherit one of the world's richest monarchies, an institution protected by a tough royal defamation law. That law makes open discussion about the royal family's role all but impossible inside the kingdom and convictions have skyrocketed since generals seized power in 2014. Officially Thailand's monarch has limited constitutional power. But over his seven-decade reign, Bhumibol built up a powerful network of alliances, especially within Thailand's military elite, and forged a reputation as an arbiter in times of crisis. Yet the late king has left his son with a sharply divided country. Thailand's last decade has seen a cycle of political protests, coups by an arch-royalist military while inequality has deepened. Dubbed the "lost decade", Thailand's most recent period of political unrest coincided with Bhumibol's increasingly frail health and fewer public appearances. Vajiralongkorn, a certified pilot, has yet to achieve his father's widespread adoration. Rumours over his private life have also trailed him. He has had three high-profile divorces, while a recent police corruption scandal linked to the family of his previous wife allowed the public a rare glimpse of palace affairs. Since Bhumibol's death, he has attended some of the daily funerary rites for his father but has made no public statements. He has asked his younger sister, Princess Sirindhorn to oversee the organisation for Bhumibol's cremation, which will not take place until an official one year mourning period has ended. Historically, the new monarch in Thailand is only crowned once the previous monarch is cremated. In a letter to parliament on Tuesday, junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha said one million Thais have now travelled to the Grand Palace, where the king's body is being held ahead of cremation, to pay their respects. (AFP)

Thai parliament invites Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to become new king