Thailand has a new Prime Minister! Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, was officially elected by the Thai parliament after securing a clear majority of votes. This marks a significant step in the country’s political landscape.
Anutin, 58 years old, beat his main rival, Chaikasem Nitisiri from the ruling Pheu Thai Party, to become the country’s next Prime Minister. The vote took place after a court decision last week removed Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her role due to an ethics violation.
During the session, 490 Members of Parliament participated in a one-hour vote. Anutin received 311 votes in favor, enough to meet the majority needed to become Prime Minister. Now, he awaits formal approval from Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn to officially take office as the 32nd Prime Minister of Thailand.
In his first speech after the vote, Anutin thanked the Thai people for their support and expressed his wish to work with all political parties for the good of the country. He said, “I look forward to working together to help Thailand progress and to fix past mistakes.” He also promised that his government would focus on enforcing laws and fighting corruption.
Anutin is well-known in Thailand’s political scene. He has been leading the Bhumjaithai Party since 2012 and has served as Deputy Prime Minister in multiple government administrations. He has also held important portfolios like Interior and Public Health.
The political situation in Thailand has been complicated. Earlier this week, there was a move by the outgoing government, led by Pheu Thai, to dissolve the Parliament. However, this was rejected by the courts because the government was temporary, and they didn’t have the authority to do so. This cleared the way for the new Prime Minister to be elected.
The opposition People’s Party, which controls about a third of Parliament seats, has expressed support for Anutin, with a condition — they want new elections to be held within four months and Parliament dissolved then.
Thailand’s politics have long been marked by power struggles, mainly between supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the military-backed conservative parties. This election indicates a possible shift towards political stability and new leadership in the Southeast Asian nation.
