#thailand-cambodia-border-conflict

#thailand-cambodia-border-conflict

Thailand's election commission confirmed on Monday that early national elections will take place on February 8. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul last week triggered the vote amid a decades-old territorial dispute with neighboring Cambodia that has once again turned deadly. Dozens of people including soldiers and civilians have died on both sides as heavy combat over contested borders entered a second week. The country's parliament was dissolved on Friday after getting approval from King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Anutin claimed on Thursday that he wanted to "return power to the people." By receiving royal backing to dissolve parliament, Anutin avoided a no-confidence vote that could have swiftly ended his tenure. Some analysts say that the PM is capitalizing on a nationalist wave whipped up by the border conflict with Cambodia.