Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the leader of the governing Democrat Party, says he is aiming to hold elections near mid-year, six months ahead of the parliament’s four year term.

The call for an election follows recent constitutional changes by parliament allowing single parliamentary constituency seats, rather than proportional representation. The move is expected to favor the Democrat Party.

Overall, voters will elect 375 members for seats in parliament, and a further 125 members nominated by political parties to make up a 500-member House of Representatives.