Thailand’s New Prime Minister: Anutin Charnvirakul

BANGKOK — Thailand’s parliament has picked Anutin Charnvirakul, the 58-year-old leader of the Bhumjaithai party, to be the next prime minister, its third since 2023.

The challenges awaiting the new leader include a sputtering economy, hit particularly hard by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and a simmering border dispute with neighboring Cambodia.

The government had already forecast growth to average 2% this year, less than half the pace of expansion of regional peers such as Indonesia and the Philippines.

The following is background on Anutin, who was elected following last week’s dismissal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra from the role after the Constitutional Court found she had violated ethical rules.

Path to Premiership

Anutin’s path to the premiership was paved by his party’s strong performance in the 2023 election, where they won 70 seats. He was the Deputy Prime Minister in the ruling coalition led by Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai party.

• Bhumjaithai was the second-largest party in the ruling coalition led by Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai party when Anutin was Deputy Prime Minister.
• Anutin withdrew from the coalition in June after the damaging leak of a phone call between the prime minister and Cambodia’s Hun Sen over a border dispute. That call was the basis of the case that led to Paetongtarn’s removal from office.
• The opposition People’s Party, which holds nearly a third of lower house seats and is the largest party in parliament, said it would back Anutin to be prime minister in return for his promise to dissolve parliament within four months. The People’s Party will not join the government.
• Anutin said he had support from seven other parties and groups, comprising 146 parliamentary seats. Along with the People’s Party’s 143 seats, he would have 289 members supporting him to become prime minister, more than the 247 votes needed.

Anutin Charnvirakul (left), leader of Thailand’s Bhumjaithai party, talks to lawmakers in parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.

Sakchai Lalit / AP

Political Career

Anutin started his political career with Thai Rak Thai, the party founded by Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn’s father. He served under Thaksin briefly as deputy health minister in 2004 and then deputy commerce minister later that year before returning to the health portfolio in 2005.

• Started in politics with Thai Rak Thai, the party founded by Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn’s father.
• Served under Thaksin briefly as deputy health minister in 2004 and then deputy commerce minister later that year before returning to the health portfolio in 2005.
• Banned from politics for five years after Thai Rak Thai was dissolved in 2007.
• Returned as leader of the Bhumjaithai party in 2012. Its strongholds are in the northeast of the country, and the party won 70 seats in the 2023 election.
• Was health minister during COVID-19, overseeing lockdowns, vaccine procurement and treatment. He was credited with reopening Thailand to foreign tourism, a key economic driver.
• Served as interior minister in the Pheu Thai-led government since 2023.
• Led a successful campaign for a liberalization of cannabis laws, wearing a cannabis leaf pattern shirt while voting in the 2023 election.
• The changes led to a rise in recreational use and an explosion of cannabis shops, upsetting conservatives and leading to Pheu Thai’s plans to recriminalize non-medical marijuana.
• He is close to the monarchy, recently accompanying King Maha Vajiralongkorn during a four-day visit to Bhutan in April, and has positioned himself as part of both a regional political dynasty and the royalist-conservative establishment.

Lawmakers in Thailand’s parliament pose for a photo with new Prime Minster Anutin Charnvirakul (center), who leads the Bhumjaithai party, at parliament chambers in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.

Sakchai Lalit / AP

Family and Business

Anutin is the son of Chavarat Charnvirakul, a businessman-politician who once served as caretaker prime minister. He is the heir to his family’s construction firm, Stecon Group, which built the parliament buildings in Bangkok.

• Nicknamed Noo, the Thai word for mouse, he is the son of Chavarat Charnvirakul, a businessman-politician who once served as caretaker prime minister.
• Heir to