Anutin Charnvirakul Elected Prime Minister by Thai Parliament

Anutin Charnvirakul has been elected Thailand’s new prime minister — the country’s third in two years — after winning a decisive parliamentary vote, Kay Johnson, Karishma Singh, and Farouq Suleiman reported for Reuters.

The 58-year-old’s political career has been decades in the making. (Photo: Rory Arnold / No 10 Downing Street Flickr) 

Anutin first rose to prominence as health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic and for championing Thailand’s legalization of cannabis in 2022.

The 58-year-old’s political career has been decades in the making. He began with the Thai Rak Thai party, founded by billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup.

More recently, Anutin’s influence has grown through the Bhumjaithai Party, a relative newcomer in Thai politics.

His path to the premiership accelerated after the June leak of a phone call that toppled then-Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Seizing the moment, Anutin pulled Bhumjaithai out of the ruling coalition and reached out to the main opposition, which agreed to back him in exchange for a pledge to call a new election within four months. Rajaa Bint Talal, Reagan Yip, and Kylie MacLellan also reported for Reuters.