In a dramatic turn of events that has gripped Thailand’s political landscape, veteran politician Anutin Charnvirakul emerged victorious in a parliamentary vote on September 5, 2025, set to become the nation’s next prime minister. According to live tallies broadcast on Thai television and corroborated by international outlets such as the Associated Press and Reuters, Anutin, the leader of the Bhumjaithai party, secured more than the required 247 votes from the 492 active members of the House of Representatives—a feat that positions him as the third prime minister in just two years.
This transition follows the abrupt dismissal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the scion of Thailand’s most influential political dynasty, who was removed from office last week by a Constitutional Court ruling. The court found Paetongtarn guilty of violating ministerial ethics after a politically compromising phone call with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen—a controversy that escalated into a deadly five-day armed conflict along the Thai-Cambodian border in July 2025. The fallout from this incident sent shockwaves through the government, ultimately fracturing the coalition and paving the way for Anutin’s rise.
Anutin, 58, is no stranger to Thailand’s political stage. He has previously served as deputy prime minister, interior minister, and health minister, gaining notoriety for his successful push to legalize cannabis in 2022 and for his high-profile management of the COVID-19 pandemic. While he was lauded for progressive drug reforms, his pandemic response drew criticism—most notably, his accusation that Westerners were spreading the virus, a statement for which he later issued a public apology, as reported by AFP.
His journey to the premiership was anything but straightforward. After serving in Paetongtarn’s Cabinet, Anutin resigned and withdrew his Bhumjaithai party from her coalition government this summer, citing outrage over her conduct during the border dispute with Cambodia. This move left Paetongtarn’s coalition with a razor-thin majority and diminishing public support, as noted by Reuters. The Bhumjaithai party’s departure was a pivotal moment, signaling the beginning of a new round of political maneuvering in the kingdom.
As Parliament convened on Friday, the atmosphere in Bangkok was tense. Voting began at 3:00 pm local time in the parliament building—ironically constructed by Anutin’s family firm. Only five candidates, all nominated during the 2023 general election, were eligible under Thailand’s constitutional rules. The main contenders were Anutin and Chaikasem Nitisiri, a 77-year-old former justice minister and attorney general put forward by the Pheu Thai party. According to Bloomberg, a motion to move the premier selection up the agenda was supported by 313 members, a strong signal of Anutin’s support within the chamber.
The political context surrounding this vote was fraught with uncertainty. The Pheu Thai party, led by the Shinawatra family since 2023, has dominated Thai politics for decades. Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin Shinawatra—a billionaire and seasoned political dealmaker—has long been a central figure. Yet, Thaksin’s sudden, unannounced departure from Thailand to Dubai on the eve of the parliamentary vote underscored the dynasty’s waning influence. Thaksin stated on social media that he would return to Thailand to attend a Supreme Court hearing, but his absence at such a critical moment did not go unnoticed.
Meanwhile, the People’s Party, the largest opposition bloc and the rebranded successor of the Move Forward Party, pledged to support Anutin’s bid for prime minister. However, this support came with strings attached: the party demanded that Parliament be dissolved within four months to pave the way for fresh elections. “We will remain in the opposition,” said Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, the People’s Party leader, making it clear that their alliance with Anutin was strictly conditional. The party also insisted on a commitment to organize a referendum on drafting a new constitution by an elected constituent assembly—an issue that has long been a sticking point in Thai politics, with the current constitution imposed during a military government and widely seen as undemocratic.
Pheu Thai, still governing in a caretaker capacity after Paetongtarn’s dismissal, made a last-ditch effort to forestall Anutin’s ascent by petitioning the king to dissolve Parliament. This request was swiftly rejected by the king’s Privy Council, with royal officials citing “disputed legal issues” around the caretaker government’s authority to make such a move. The party then shifted strategy, nominating Chaikasem Nitisiri and promising that, if victorious, he would call for an immediate general election. However, the People’s Party rebuffed this offer, choosing instead to honor its pact with Bhumjaithai and Anutin.
Thailand’s political scene has been marked by volatility, shifting alliances, and frequent military interventions. The Senate, once a powerful force appointed by the military and a bulwark of the royalist establishment, no longer participates in prime minister votes—a change that has altered the dynamics of power in the kingdom. The Move Forward Party, now the People’s Party, had previously won the most seats in the 2023 election but was blocked from taking power when the Senate voted against its candidate due to proposed reforms to the monarchy.
As Anutin prepares to take office—pending formal appointment by King Maha Vajiralongkorn—the challenges ahead are formidable. His government is expected to be a minority one, reliant on fragile alliances and under pressure to deliver on promises for constitutional reform and new elections. The specter of political deadlock looms large; should neither Anutin nor his rivals succeed in consolidating power, further rounds of alliance-building or even the return of figures like retired general Prayuth Chan-ocha, now a royal adviser, could come into play. As Reuters notes, “There are no permanent friends or enemies in Thai politics.”
For now, Anutin’s victory marks another chapter in Thailand’s ongoing saga of political intrigue, dynastic rivalry, and the relentless quest for stability in a nation where the only constant seems to be change.