Bangkok: The Cabinet has approved the draft Royal Decree for convening Parliament in 2026, though the specific date for the parliamentary session remains unspecified. Ms. Airin Phanrit, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced this development, highlighting the Cabinet's agreement on the draft Royal Decree on Convening Parliament, B.E. 2569 (2026), as proposed by the Cabinet Secretariat.
According to Thai News Agency, the Cabinet Secretariat is set to coordinate with the Election Commission, the Secretariat of the House of Representatives, and the Office of the Privy Council to determine the date for convening Parliament. The process will advance once 475 members, representing 95% of the total number of members of the House of Representatives, have been elected. Subsequently, the draft Royal Decree will be submitted to His Majesty the King for royal assent.
Ms. Airin elaborated that the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, along with its amendments, outlines that the House of Representatives should comprise 500 members. This includes 400 members elected from single-member constituencies and 100 members elected from party-list proportional representation. The Constitution further stipulates that when 95% of the members have been elected, Parliament may be convened if necessary. The Election Commission is responsible for announcing the election results after a preliminary verification, ensuring fairness and justice, and covering no less than 95% of the constituencies. This verification and announcement must occur no later than 60 days from the election date, by April 8, 2026. Following this, Parliament must be convened for its first meeting within fifteen days, by April 22, 2026.
Additionally, the Constitution mandates that the King shall convene, open, and close parliamentary sessions. The King may personally preside over the opening ceremony of the first ordinary annual session or appoint a representative to perform the ceremony. This process is formalized through a Royal Decree.
To ensure a smooth transition into the first parliamentary session, the Secretariat of the National Security Council has prepared the Royal Decree on the Convening of Parliament, B.E. 2569, coordinating with relevant bodies once the requisite number of House members is elected. Upon achieving the necessary electoral threshold, the draft royal decree will be presented to His Majesty the King for royal assent.