Thailand's ruling party seeks house dissolution as opposition backs rival's PM bid

Anutin Charnvirakul, Bhumjaithai Party's leader and prime ministerial candidate, holds an agreement after signing it, during a press conference at the parliament, as the People's Party announced it will back the Bhumjaithai Party to form a government, following the Constitutional Court's removal of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office for an ethics violation, in Bangkok, Thailand, September 3, 2025. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thai politics were in chaos on Wednesday as the ruling Pheu Thai party said it had sought royal approval to dissolve the parliament for a new election, moments after the biggest group in the house said it would back another party to form a government.

The chief whip of the Pheu Thai party, which last week suffered the loss of its prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, to a court ruling, told Reuters the party had decided to forge ahead with seeking a snap election.