Thailand’s next interim prime minister, conservative business magnate Anutin Charnvirakul, has promised to fulfill his pledge of leading the fractured government to new elections. He was confirmed by parliament on Friday, which ended a week-long power vacuum following the ouster of his predecessor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The construction tycoon formed a coalition of opposition blocs to keep out Pheu Thai, the electoral vehicle of the once-dominant Shinawatra dynasty’s patriarch, Thaksin. He received the backing of the People’s Party, which holds a plurality of seats, on the condition that he dissolve parliament within four months to hold fresh elections.
“I will follow all agreements,” he said Friday outside his party headquarters. “We must bring back the spirit of the ‘Land of Smiles’ to our country during my short time in office,” he added, noting that he is known for disliking conflict.
Anutin also addressed Thaksin’s unexpected flight from the kingdom the night before Friday’s vote and days before a court case. Thaksin was bound for Dubai, where he said he would visit friends and seek medical treatment. “There will be no favoritism, no persecution, and no revenge,” Anutin said.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to rule on Tuesday in a case over Thaksin’s hospital stay following his return from exile in August 2023, a verdict some analysts believe could land him in jail.
Anutin’s right-wing Bhumjaithai party had gone into a coalition with Pheu Thai in 2023 but pulled out in June over Paetongtarn’s alleged misconduct in a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
The Shinawatra family has been a mainstay of Thai politics for the past two decades, often clashing with the pro-monarchy, pro-military establishment that views them as a threat to the kingdom’s traditional social order. However, they have faced a series of setbacks, including Paetongtarn’s removal last week.
Anutin previously served as deputy prime minister, interior minister, and health minister—but is perhaps most famous for delivering on his promise to legalize cannabis in 2022. His elevation to the premiership still needs to be endorsed by the King of Thailand to become official.
