Bangkok, September 5, 2025 — In a dramatic shift in Bangkok’s political landscape, veteran politician Anutin Charnvirakul has been elected Thailand’s new prime minister. Anutin, the 58-year-old head of the conservative royalist Bhumjaithai Party, secured a commanding 63% of parliamentary votes, marking a turning point in the nation’s prolonged period of instability.
His ascent follows the ouster of Paetongtarn Shinawatra—daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra—by a Constitutional Court ruling over ethics violations. With Pheu Thai’s coalition unraveling, Anutin’s deft maneuvering, aided by an alliance with the reformist People’s Party, paved his way to power.
A pragmatic consensus-builder, Anutin pledged to dissolve parliament within four months and call fresh elections—a key condition for securing support from the People’s Party. While this support was critical, the progressive group will remain in opposition. Analysts warn that Anutin’s minority administration may remain fragile under these circumstances.
Anutin’s political persona is rooted in both commercial wealth and policymaking. A former health minister famed for leading Thailand’s 2022 campaign to decriminalise cannabis, he has navigated both populist and military-aligned regimes—underlining his adaptability in a fractious power dynamic.
While his victory signals a setback for the Shinawatra dynasty, which held sway over Thailand for decades, analysts stress that the new government’s durability hinges on its ability to manage economic headwinds and deliver promised reforms in a polarized political climate.
