Bangkok: Thailand’s main opposition party MPs have resigned en masse from parliament, deepening the country’s political crisis as protesters vowed a final showdown on Monday with the government.

The Democrat Party said that its 153 MPs in the 500-seat lower house were resigning to protest what it called the “illegitimacy” of the government of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Anti-government protesters chat behind the remains of a burnt-out vehicle at the site of recent clashes with police near the Government house in Bangkok. Credit:Reuters

The move will not prevent Ms Yingluck’s government passing new laws, but it will raise questions about the legitimacy of parliament.

“We performed our duty in parliament as best we could,” said Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.