Veteran Thai politician Anutin Charnvirakul set to become new Prime Minister

58-year-old Bhumjaithai party leader, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, has been selected by Thailand’s parliament to serve as the country’s next prime minister.

According to an unofficial running tally that was broadcasted live on television, Mr Charnvirakul won a vote in Parliament on Friday to become the nation’s new prime minister.

He won a total of 311 votes, far exceeding the 247 required majority from the House of Representative’s 492 active members.

In a few days, he and his administration are anticipated to assume office following King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s official appointment.

Anutin succeeds Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was removed from office as prime minister by court order last week after being found guilty of ethics violations in connection with a politically sensitive phone contact with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen.

The 58-year-old Anutin had served in the Pheu Thai-led coalition government that took power in 2023 and before that in the military-backed but elected government under former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Anutin is best known for successfully lobbying for the decriminalization of cannabis, a policy that is now being more strictly regulated for medical purposes.