Thailand Parliament Elects Anutin Charnvirakul New Prime Minister

Thailand's parliament has elected Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai party, as the new prime minister, following the dismissal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra by the Constitutional Court over ethical violations. Anutin secured the position with broad support including a pact with the opposition People's Party, which holds nearly a third of parliamentary seats and agreed to back him in exchange for a promise to dissolve parliament within four months, though it will not join the government. Anutin, a seasoned politician with ties to the monarchy and a background in health and interior ministries, previously withdrew from the ruling coalition amid controversy over a leaked phone call involving a border dispute with Cambodia that led to Paetongtarn's removal. His election marks a defeat for the influential Shinawatra family’s Pheu Thai party, which has dominated Thai politics but faces internal crisis and declining popularity. The opposition People's Party has emphasized the need for a new election to restore public trust amid political instability, criticizing the current administration's failure to govern effectively. Anutin's political career includes overseeing COVID-19 responses and reopening Thailand to foreign tourism, and he enjoys strong regional support, especially in the northeast.