Thailand to hold elections on Feb 8, its election commission confirms

[BANGKOK] Thailand’s next general election will take place on Feb 8, the election commission said on Monday (Dec 15), just three months after the current prime minister took office.

“Today the Election Commission has drafted election details and proposed to the commissioner who agreed that Sunday, Feb 8, 2026, will be the election day,” the commission said in a statement, adding that advance voting would take place on Feb 1.

Earlier, multiple local media reports including public broadcaster Thai PBS, broadcaster PPTV and digital outlet Prachathai reported the date for the polls.

The polling date comes after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul last week received royal assent for the dissolution of parliament, meaning that polls must be held 45 to 60 days.

The earlier-than-expected election comes after Anutin last week fell out with the opposition People’s Party, the largest grouping in parliament, and moved to dissolve the house amid a raging border conflict with neighbouring Cambodia.

Anutin had won the support of the People’s Party for his premiership bid in September, in return for starting a process to amend the Constitution and then dissolve the house at the end of January.

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A seasoned dealmaker, Anutin, 59, stands to gain from a wave of nationalism sweeping through Thailand as its military fights Cambodia in the name of defending Thai sovereignty. AFP, REUTERS