The vote is a major blow to the Shinawatra clan, a mainstay of Thai politics for the past two decades.Published On 5 Sep 20255 Sep 2025Thailand’s parliament has elected Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the conservative opposition Bhumjaithai party, as the country’s prime minister.The vote on Friday means Anutin will replace Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, who was dismissed by the Constitutional Court last month over an ethics scandal.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listAnutin secured victory over Chaikasem Nitisiri, the candidate of the populist Pheu Thai, with the support of the liberal People’s Party.That backing from the largest party in the parliament was premised on a promise from Anutin to call a general election within four months.The Bhumjaithai leader scored a convincing victory, securing 311 votes, far above the 247 required for a majority among the House of Representatives’ 492 active members.Chaikasem received 152 votes. There were a total of 27 abstentions.Chalerm Yubamrung, a member of the Pheu Thai Party and former deputy prime minister, surprised parliament by crossing the aisle.Anutin and his government are expected to take office in a few days, after obtaining a formal appointment from King Maha Vajiralongkorn.Dynastic blowThe victory of the 58-year-old veteran Anutin deals another blow to the Shinawatra clan, which has been a mainstay of Thai politics for the past two decades.Their populist movement has long jousted with the pro-military, pro-monarchy establishment, but has been increasingly bedevilled by legal and political setbacks.The dynasty’s patriarch, Thaksin Shinawatra, flew out of Thailand in the hours before Fri …
