Thailand to vote on new prime minister after dissolution bid rejected

Thai royal officials rejected a request by the ruling party to dissolve parliament, the country's acting prime minister said on Thursday, clearing the way for a vote that could select his successor.

A power vacuum has opened up in Thailand's top office since August 29, when the Constitutional Court sacked then-Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over an ethics breach.

A coalition of opposition members of parliament has backed conservative construction magnate Anutin Charnvirakul to take the top office, with a vote scheduled for Friday at around 10:00 am.

Paetongtarn's Pheu Thai party, which is still governing in a caretaker capacity, had attempted to dissolve the legislature and block the vote, submitting its request to the palace.

But caretaker premier Phumtham Wechayachai said the Office of the Privy Council told him it was "inappropriate to present the draft of the Royal Decree to His Majesty at this time."

He said in a Facebook post that the office told him there were "disputed legal issues" regarding his authority to dissolve parliament in a caretaker capacity.

The path is now clear for MPs to vote for a new leader.