His Majesty the King, accompanied by Her Majesty the Queen, is scheduled to preside over the opening of Parliament on Friday, 24 May 2019 at Vites Samosorn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Bangkok, after a royal decree was issued calling for the opening of Parliament from 22 May 2019 onwards.
Their Majesties the King and Queen will arrive at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sri Ayudhya Road at 15.00 hr. His Majesty the King will deliver a royal speech marking the opening of the new National Assembly. After the opening ceremony, Their Majesties the King and Queen will return back to Ambara Villa, Dusit Palace.
The opening of the National Assembly takes place two months after the general election. On the following day, 25 May 2019, a meeting of the Senate will be held at the auditorium of the TOT Public Company Headquarters on Chaeng Watthana Road in the morning, when the appointed 250 senators elect their President and Vice-Presidents.
Later, in the afternoon on the same day and at the same place, the first session of the House of Representatives will convene. Mr. Chai Chidchob, a party-list MP from Bhumjaithai Party and the most senior MP, will serve as the temporary House Speaker to conduct the elections of the new House Speaker and two deputies.
The House of Representatives consists of 500 members, 350 of whom come from the election on a constituency basis and 150 from party lists of political parties.
The 250 senators and 500 members of the House of Representatives will attend a joint meeting to select the new prime minister. The date and place will be set later for the joint meeting to vote for the prime minister.
The person to be voted as the prime minister must win at least 376 votes, a majority of the combined membership of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
