Thailand has appointed Anutin Charnvirakul as its new prime minister, marking the third change of leadership in just two years. Anutin, a wealthy businessman and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, rose to power after parliament voted him in, following the dismissal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra by the Constitutional Court last week. Paetongtarn, daughter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was removed over ethical violations linked to her handling of a sensitive border dispute with Cambodia.
The political shift is a major blow to the Shinawatra dynasty, which has dominated Thai politics since 2001. Both Thaksin and his sister Yingluck were previously ousted by military coups, and Paetongtarn’s dismissal underscores the family’s ongoing struggle against the conservative-royalist establishment. Her removal also comes amid wider political instability, with Thailand’s reformist People’s Party barred from forming a government despite winning the largest number of seats in the 2023 election.
Anutin, 58, is a seasoned dealmaker whose Bhumjaithai Party holds only 69 out of 500 seats in parliament, forcing him to rely on alliances. Known for liberalizing Thailand’s marijuana laws as health minister in 2022, he secured support from the People’s Party on the condition that fresh elections be held within four months and that the military-backed constitution be amended. However, the agreement limits his ability to pass legislation, leaving his administration on shaky ground.
His appointment signals a fragile compromise in Thai politics, where leaders have often been ousted by judicial interventions and coups. While Anutin is staunchly royalist and comes from a wealthy political family with deep ties to business, his leadership begins with little room to maneuver. His immediate challenge will be to stabilize Thailand’s fractured political landscape and prepare the country for yet another election in the coming months.
For many Thais, Anutin’s short-term premiership represents yet another chapter in a long cycle of political upheaval. With the Shinawatras weakened, the reformists sidelined, and the military still influential, the future of Thailand’s democracy remains uncertain.
