September 6, 2025 | 10:00 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thailand’s parliament has elected Anutin Charnvirakul as the country’s new prime minister on Friday, September 5, 2025.
Anutin, 58, secured a majority vote in a contest against Chaikasem Nitisiri of the Pheu Thai Party. This marks the first parliamentary vote for prime minister since 2019.
The Bhumjaithai Party leader had been considered the frontrunner, claiming ahead of the vote that he had secured the backing of 146 lawmakers from his own party and its allies. The People’s Party also pledged support from 143 of its members.
Anutin, heir to a construction engineering fortune, has held senior cabinet posts including deputy prime minister, interior minister, and health minister. He is most widely recognized for spearheading Thailand’s legalization of marijuana in 2022, though the policy has since been restricted to medical use.
His political career has not been without controversy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he faced backlash for accusing Western nations of spreading the virus, later issuing an apology amid heavy criticism.
Anutin was previously part of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s coalition but broke away earlier this year, reportedly over disputes linked to tensions with Cambodia.
On August 29, Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled that Paetongtarn had violated ministerial ethics in handling the border dispute, leading to his dismissal after just one year in office.
The lead-up to Friday’s parliamentary vote was further overshadowed by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s sudden trip abroad. The polarizing billionaire departed Thailand on Thursday night in his private jet, en route to Dubai, while his Pheu Thai Party was mired in political turmoil.
In a post on X Friday morning, Thaksin said he had initially traveled to Singapore for medical treatment but was diverted to Dubai due to an airport closure. He added that he would also “visit friends” and meet with respiratory and orthopedic specialists during the trip.
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