Kuala Lampur, Dec. 12 -- Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's sudden move to dissolve parliament and call a snap general election has caught South-east Asia by surprise.

It is a decision that appears bold on the surface - even admirable - but it is also deeply rooted in the slippery realities of Thai politics, where coalitions shift rapidly, parliamentary threats multiply overnight, and governments can collapse long before they complete their mandate.

The timing amplifies the shock. Thailand is under immense internal and external pressure.

The Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord, signed with fanfare and hope, collapsed on December 8, 2026, barely two months after its signing. The Thai-Cambodian conflict has since escalated into wider confrontati...