Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved parliament and called a snap election.  But anti-government protest leaders met this with more demonstrations to scrap the democratically elected government and install an unelected body to run Thailand.

“At this stage, when there are many people opposed to the government from many groups, the best way is to give back the power to the Thai people and hold an election,” said Yingluck in a televised address, “So the Thai people will decide.”

The leader of the anti-government movement, former military government Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, wants to replace democracy with a panel of appointed “good people”.  Yingluck has dismissed the idea as unconstitutional and undemocratic.

Yingluck’s ruling, populist Puea Thai Party won the last election in 2011 by a landslide, enjoying widespread support in the poor north and northeast. The Democrats, who support the anti-democracy protesters, have not won an election in more than two decades.