Anutin Charnvirakul, a prominent figure in Thai politics and a former businessman, has been appointed as Thailand’s new Prime Minister. He gained recognition as the Minister of Health during the COVID-19 crisis and is also known for championing the decriminalization of cannabis in 2022, earning him the moniker ‘Cannabis King’. The recent election saw Charnvirakul garner 247 votes in the lower house, solidifying his position as a political power player for the past ten years. The Thai parliament consists of 492 active members.
This marks the third prime minister chosen this year in Thailand, a country that has seen five prime ministers ousted by court rulings in the last 17 years. The most recent event involved the removal of former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra due to ethics violations. This decision added to the existing political and economic struggles that Thailand has been facing during Shinawatra’s ten-month term, with a dependence on trade and tourism, particularly with the United States, where a 19% tariff has affected economic growth.
Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party holds the third-largest position in the parliament. This week, they established an agreement with the opposing People’s Party, and obtained their backing. As part of the agreement, Charnvirakul committed to dissolving parliament and initiating general elections within four months.
The People’s Party, despite securing the highest number of votes in the 2023 elections, was denied power due to their call for revisions to the royal defamation laws. This party will now offer external support to Charnvirakul’s government.
Charnvirakul, who is 58 years old, is a conservative and a strong nationalist. He has previously held the position of Home Minister in Paetongtarn’s coalition government. His ascendancy to the position of Prime Minister represents a setback for the Pheu Thai Party, which, under the guidance of Paetongtarn’s father, Thaksin Shinawatra, had maintained dominance in Thai politics for two decades. Shinawatra served as Prime Minister from 2001 until the military ousted him in 2006.