Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, was elected Thailand’s prime minister with 311 votes, defeating Pheu Thai’s Chaikasem Nitisiri, who earned 152 votes, in a historic vote that ended the Shinawatra dynasty’s dominance.
Anutin secured a commanding victory in the 492-seat House of Representatives, surpassing the 247-vote majority needed. Support from the People’s Party, with 143 votes, was pivotal, premised on his promise to hold elections within four months. Twenty-seven lawmakers abstained, and nine Pheu Thai members, including Chalerm Yubamrung, crossed party lines.
The vote marks a blow to the Shinawatra clan, whose Pheu Thai party has dominated Thai politics for two decades. Paetongtarn Shinawatra was sacked as PM on August 29 for ethics violations tied to a Cambodia border dispute. Thaksin Shinawatra fled to Dubai on September 4, facing a court ruling on September 9 that could jail him.
Anutin, 58, a veteran politician, once backed Pheu Thai but split over Paetongtarn’s conduct. His Bhumjaithai Party, with 146 lawmakers, capitalized on Pheu Thai’s disarray, forging a deal with the opposition People’s Party to secure the premiership.
Pheu Thai’s last-ditch effort to dissolve parliament was rejected by royal officials, citing legal issues. The party, now in caretaker mode, vowed to reclaim power as opposition, focusing on unfulfilled policies. Anutin’s government awaits King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s formal appointment.
Anutin Charnvirakul’s leadership signals a shift in Thailand’s political landscape. His election pledge could lead to a snap election by January 2026, potentially reshaping power dynamics as Pheu Thai regroups and Thaksin’s legal fate unfolds.
