Thailand’s parliament is expected to confirm construction magnate Anutin Charnvirakul as the country’s new prime minister, marking the end of the Shinawatra family’s latest hold on power. The vote follows a Constitutional Court ruling that removed Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office for breaching ministerial ethics during a border dispute with Cambodia.
Anutin, 58, has previously served as deputy prime minister, interior minister, and health minister, and gained prominence for overseeing the legalization of cannabis in 2022. Backed by his Bhumjaithai Party and the largest opposition bloc, the People’s Party, he is projected to secure a comfortable majority in parliament.
The Shinawatra dynasty, which has dominated Thai politics for two decades with its populist approach, faces another setback as patriarch Thaksin Shinawatra left for Dubai ahead of the vote. The family’s Pheu Thai party, currently serving in a caretaker role, has nominated Chaikasem Nitisiri as an alternative candidate, though chances of success appear slim.
If elected, Anutin will lead under the condition that parliament is dissolved within four months for fresh elections, reflecting ongoing political instability in the kingdom.