Thailand to hold general elections on May 14

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Thailand will hold general elections on May 14, the electoral body announced on Tuesday, a day after the country's parliament was dissolved.

The Election Commission of Thailand said the general election will be held on May 14, and advance voting will take place on May 7, according to daily Bangkok Post.

Prospective candidates for the 500-member parliament are scheduled to submit their documents between April 3 and 7.

An order signed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn was published in the Royal Gazette on Monday, paving the way for what is expected to be a fiercely contested battle for power in the country of 72 million people.

The United Thai Nation Party of incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former military general, will face off with the Pheu Thai party, led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Paetongtarn, 36, is the daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a military coup in 2006, and the niece of Yingluck Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2014 coup led by Prayut.

The Move Forward Party, headed by politician and businessman Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, is also running for office.

According to recent polls, Paetongtarn is leading the race for the coveted post of prime minister, followed by Pita and Prayut, and her party is confident of securing a majority of the 500 seats up for grabs.