Thailand’s political landscape has shifted dramatically yet again, as Anutin Charnvirakul, a seasoned politician and business tycoon, officially took office as the nation’s new prime minister on Sunday, September 7, 2025. The move follows a royal endorsement from King Maha Vajiralongkorn, capping off a whirlwind sequence of events that saw the abrupt removal of the previous prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, amid scandal and a deadly border conflict with Cambodia.
At a formal ceremony held at the Bhumjaithai Party headquarters in Bangkok, Anutin, 58, knelt before a portrait of the king and paid respects to his family, who were in attendance. According to AP, the royal command was read aloud by Arpath Sukhanunth, secretary-general of Thailand’s lower house of parliament, declaring, "His majesty the king has endorsed Mr Anutin Charnvirakul to be prime minister from now onwards." Images shared by Thai news outlets captured a visibly moved Anutin bowing deeply and later greeting his father, Chavarat Charnvirakul, a former caretaker prime minister.
In his first remarks as prime minister, Anutin described the endorsement as a “limitless blessing and honour” for himself and his family, pledging to serve "at his best with honesty and righteousness for the benefit of Thai people and the stability of Thailand," as reported by the Bangkok Post. He continued, "I’d like to take an oath that I determine to perform my duties to my fullest capabilities, with honesty and virtue."
Anutin’s rise comes after months of political instability and marks the third change in Thailand’s leadership in just two years. The latest crisis erupted in June when Anutin, then serving as deputy prime minister and interior minister in Paetongtarn’s Cabinet, withdrew his Bhumjaithai Party from the ruling coalition. This move followed public uproar over a leaked phone call between Paetongtarn and Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen, which took place shortly before a deadly five-day armed border conflict in July. The call, in which Paetongtarn was heard addressing Hun Sen as "uncle" and disparaging a Thai military commander, became the basis for her subsequent dismissal by Thailand’s Constitutional Court on August 29, 2025, for breaching ministerial ethics.
With the Shinawatra dynasty’s grip on power weakened, Anutin seized the opportunity to forge a new path. On Friday, September 5, 2025, Thailand’s parliament elected him prime minister, with crucial backing from the opposition People’s Party—the largest and most progressive bloc in the legislature. The People’s Party agreed to support Anutin on the explicit condition that he would dissolve parliament within four months and call for new elections, as well as hold a referendum on drafting a new constitution. The party, however, made clear it would remain in opposition, potentially leaving Anutin’s government in a precarious minority position.
According to Reuters, Anutin claimed the support of seven other parties and groups, totaling 146 parliamentary seats. Combined with the People’s Party’s 143 seats, he secured 289 votes—well above the 247 needed for a majority. However, the People’s Party’s decision to remain outside the government underscores the fragility of Anutin’s mandate and the likelihood of further political maneuvering in the months ahead.
The new prime minister wasted no time signaling his priorities. At a press conference following his appointment, Anutin promised to tackle Thailand’s most pressing problems, including the faltering economy, the ongoing border dispute with Cambodia, natural disasters, and rising crime. "My government will seek to address the country’s urgent problems," he told reporters, emphasizing the need for stability and reform. He also reiterated his commitment to constitutional change, vowing to "return power to the people to decide on the future of the country."
Public sentiment appears to support these pledges. A survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration and published on September 7 showed that 59.24 percent of voters want parliament dissolved as soon as possible, while nearly 60 percent back constitutional amendments. The appetite for change is palpable, especially after a period marked by rapid leadership turnovers and persistent instability.
Anutin’s political journey has been anything but conventional. He entered politics with the Thai Rak Thai party—founded by Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn’s father—and served in various ministerial roles before being banned from politics for five years following the party’s dissolution in 2007. Returning as leader of Bhumjaithai in 2012, Anutin built the party’s base in Thailand’s northeast and steered it to win 70 seats in the 2023 election. Known for his pragmatic, sometimes controversial style, he was health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he oversaw lockdowns, vaccine procurement, and the reopening of Thailand to foreign tourism. He was also at the center of criticism for delays in vaccine supplies and, at one point, accused Western countries of spreading the virus—a comment that sparked backlash.
Perhaps most notably, Anutin is recognized for his successful push to decriminalize cannabis in 2022. Sporting a shirt with a cannabis leaf pattern at the polls, he championed a policy that led to a boom in recreational use and cannabis shops across Thailand. The move delighted some but angered conservatives, prompting subsequent efforts by the Pheu Thai party to re-tighten regulations on non-medical marijuana.
Beyond politics, Anutin is the son of Chavarat Charnvirakul, heir to the family’s construction business Stecon Group, and maintains close ties with business elites and influential figures like Newin Chidchob, a political power broker in the northeast. He holds an industrial engineering degree from Hofstra University in New York and is known for his interest in recreational flying and collecting Buddhist amulets.
His close relationship with the monarchy was on display earlier this year when he accompanied King Maha Vajiralongkorn on a four-day visit to Bhutan. This connection, along with his ability to build coalitions across party lines, has helped Anutin position himself as a stabilizing figure amid Thailand’s often volatile political scene.
The challenges ahead are formidable. Thailand’s economy has been sluggish, hampered by months of political uncertainty and the fallout from COVID-19. The border conflict with Cambodia remains unresolved, and the public’s trust in government is fragile. Anutin’s promise to dissolve parliament and call early elections within four months will test his ability to deliver on ambitious reforms while holding together a tenuous coalition.
For now, Anutin’s ascension signals both continuity and change—a blend of establishment ties and populist appeal, with a mandate shaped as much by political necessity as by public demand. As Thailand braces for yet another chapter in its turbulent democratic journey, all eyes are on the new prime minister to see whether he can break the cycle of instability and chart a course toward genuine reform.
In the coming months, the true test will be whether Anutin’s promises translate into action, and whether Thailand’s weary electorate finally gets the voice it has long been promised.
