BANGKOK, Sept 5 (TNA) – Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, has been elected as Thailand’s 32nd prime minister in a parliamentary vote on Friday, ending weeks of political uncertainty following the ousting of his predecessor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Anutin, 58, secured the premiership with 311 votes from the 492 members of the House of Representatives, a comfortable margin over the 247 votes required for a majority. His main rival, Chaikasem Nitisiri of the Pheu Thai Party, garnered 152 votes. There were 27 abstentions.
The vote took place after a caretaker government’s bid to dissolve parliament failed, leading the House vote to select a new leader.
Anutin’s path to victory was widely anticipated after his minority coalition, totaling 146 seats, secured a crucial agreement with the main opposition People’s Party, which holds 143 seats, the largest in the House.
Under the agreement, the People’s Party, while remaining in opposition, pledged to support Anutin’s prime ministerial bid on the condition that he dissolve parliament within four months and initiate the process of drafting a new– more democratic– constitution, including holding a referendum if required by the Constitutional Court.
This strategic arrangement positioned Anutin as a transitional leader, tasked with breaking the political deadlock and returning power to the people through a new election.
The new prime minister is known for his liberal policies, including the decriminalization of cannabis during his previous tenure as Health Minister. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister in the prior Pheu Thai-led coalition government before his party’s withdrawal following a leaked phone call between former prime minister Paetongtarn and Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
The Constitutional Court subsequently removed Paetongtarn from office on August 29, 2025, ruling that she had violated ethical standards during the phone call. – 819 (812) (TNA)
