Anutin Charnvirakul Elected Thailands New Prime Minister

Published: Friday, September 5, 2025 at 9:43 am

Anutin Charnvirakul Elected Thailand's New Prime Minister

Bangkok, Thailand – In a significant political shift, Thailand's parliament has elected Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, as the new Prime Minister. The vote, held in the House of Representatives, saw Anutin secure 311 votes, surpassing his rival, Chaikasem Nitisiri, who received 152 votes.

The election follows the removal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra from the premiership by the Constitutional Court. Shinawatra, who served for one year, was ousted due to an ethical violation related to comments she made criticizing a Thai army commander.

Anutin's victory marks a notable change in leadership for the Southeast Asian nation. The 58-year-old politician has held positions in several cabinets, including those of Prayuth Chan-Ocha. His nomination now awaits endorsement from the Thai king to become official. If confirmed, Anutin will become Thailand's third prime minister in the past two years.

The political landscape has been further complicated by the recent actions of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, father of Paetongtarn. Thaksin, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and spent over a decade in self-exile, returned to Thailand in 2023. He was initially sentenced to eight years in prison but received a royal pardon. Thaksin, who is worth $2.1 billion, left Thailand for a medical checkup in Dubai just before the parliamentary vote. He has stated his intention to return next week to face the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to rule on whether he faked his medical condition to avoid jail time.

BNN's Perspective: The political instability in Thailand, marked by frequent leadership changes and legal challenges, underscores the need for greater stability and adherence to ethical standards. While the transition to a new prime minister offers a fresh start, the underlying issues of political division and legal scrutiny must be addressed to ensure long-term stability and progress for the country.

Keywords: Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand, Prime Minister, Bhumjaithai Party, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin Shinawatra, Constitutional Court, political instability, election, government, Southeast Asia, royal pardon.

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