Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has announced that he is “returning power to the people”, moving to dissolve parliament and opening the door to elections earlier than previously planned.

Anutin has submitted a request for the dissolution of parliament to the king, local media reported on Thursday.

If the monarch approves the dissolution, elections must be held within 45-60 days, according to the Thai constitution.

Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat told the news agency Reuters that the move followed a dispute with the opposition People’s Party, the largest bloc in the legislature.

“This happened because we can’t go forward in parliament,” Siripong said, describing a legislative impasse that has paralysed the government’s agenda.

The political rupture comes as T

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