Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul looks set to tap burgeoning nationalism over a border conflict with Cambodia to boost his appeal in a general election stemming from his dissolution of parliament after less than 100 days in power.

Thailand is preparing for new elections early next year after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved the House of Representatives

Thailand’s prime minister is gambling on early elections as a nationalist wave fueled by the border conflict with Cambodia offers his conservative bloc a chance to best pro-democracy rivals that have won every election this century.

Thailand was heading on Friday for a snap poll as soon as February, after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul won royal backing to dissolve parliament, heading off the risk of a no-confidence vote amid a raging border conflict with Cambodia.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had signaled the move with a Facebook post late Thursday saying: “I’d like to return power to the people.”