ANUTIN Charnvirakul, a construction tycoon best known for spearheading Thailand’s cannabis decriminalisation, has officially taken office as Prime Minister, replacing the ousted Paetongtarn Shinawatra and ending the long-dominant grip of the Shinawatra political dynasty on Thai politics.
AFP reported on Sunday that Anutin’s appointment was formally confirmed during a ceremony at the headquarters of his Bhumjaithai Party in Bangkok, following royal endorsement from King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
“His Majesty the King has endorsed Mr Anutin Charnvirakul to be Prime Minister from now onwards,” announced Arpath Sukhanunth, secretary-general of the lower house of parliament, as he read the royal command.
Anutin, 57, becomes Thailand’s third premier in just two years. His rise follows last month’s Constitutional Court ruling that disqualified Paetongtarn from office for breaching ministerial ethics during a border dispute with Cambodia.
The court’s decision abruptly ended her premiership after barely a year in power.
Following the ruling, Anutin moved quickly to form a new coalition and secured a majority in parliament on Friday, effectively excluding Pheu Thai — the Shinawatra-led party — from the new government.
His coalition partners have reportedly agreed to support him on condition that parliament is dissolved within four months to pave the way for fresh elections.
“I will work at my full capacity with honesty and morality worthy of His Majesty’s trust, for the benefit of the people and for the country,” Anutin declared after receiving the royal endorsement.
The fall of the Shinawatras
The Pheu Thai party, led for decades by the Shinawatra family, has been a formidable populist force since the early 2000s, frequently clashing with Thailand’s pro-military, pro-monarchy establishment. However, recent years have seen the dynasty lose political ground amid mounting legal battles and shifting alliances.
Anutin, once aligned with the Shinawatras, severed ties with Pheu Thai earlier this year. His decision reportedly followed dissatisfaction with Paetongtarn’s leadership, particularly during the Cambodian border dispute.
Meanwhile, family patriarch Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned from self-imposed exile in 2023, left Thailand for Dubai shortly before Friday’s vote, citing medical treatment and personal visits.
He has pledged to return to face the Supreme Court on Tuesday in a hearing related to his controversial hospital stay following his return last year. While the case does not challenge his original conviction, a ruling against him could see him returned to prison.
Anutin, who previously served as deputy prime minister, interior minister and health minister, has vowed that his administration will pursue governance without bias.
“There will be no favouritism, no persecution, and no revenge,” he said.
He is expected to govern until early 2026, when new elections are anticipated as per the conditions agreed with his coalition partners. - Sept 7, 2025
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