Lead: On Sept. 5, 2025, Thailand’s parliament elected Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister after he won a decisive lower-house majority, ending a week of political turmoil triggered by the Constitutional Court’s removal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the sudden departure of Thaksin Shinawatra.
Key Takeaways
- Anutin secured the premiership on Sept. 5, 2025 with strong parliamentary support, including backing from the largest party, the People’s Party.
- The vote followed Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s ouster by the Constitutional Court for an ethics violation.
- Anutin leads a minority coalition; the People’s Party agreed to back him without joining the cabinet in exchange for a referendum promise.
- He pledged a referendum on constitutional reform and an election within four months.
- Thaksin Shinawatra left Thailand for Dubai amid legal uncertainty; a court ruling that could affect him is due next week.
- Anutin, 58, is a long-standing political figure who previously served as deputy premier, interior minister and health minister.
Verified Facts
Anutin Charnvirakul, head of the Bhumjaithai Party, was elected prime minister by Thailand’s lower house on Sept. 5, 2025 after winning more than half of the votes required. The result followed frantic negotiations in the wake of the Constitutional Court’s decision to remove Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office for an ethics breach.
The People’s Party, the largest parliamentary bloc, agreed to support Anutin’s candidacy but will not enter his cabinet. Their backing was reportedly secured by his commitment to hold a public referendum on constitutional amendments and to call a fresh election within four months.
Anutin will lead a minority government. Observers note the administration will immediately confront economic challenges: weak domestic consumption, tight lending conditions and high household debt that have weighed on growth.
Thaksin Shinawatra, a dominant figure in Thai politics and a major influence on the Pheu Thai party, left Thailand late on Thursday for Dubai. His party sought emergency measures to block Anutin’s rise, and a key court decision that could affect Thaksin’s potential imprisonment is expected next week; the Supreme Court is due to rule on whether his hospital stay counted as time served.
Context & Impact
Anutin’s victory marks a significant setback for Pheu Thai, which has won five of the last six national elections but has faced dwindling support after coalition fractures and public unrest. The party’s crisis began in June when Anutin pulled his party from the governing alliance, leaving the administration with a slim majority.
Politically, Anutin has long positioned Bhumjaithai as a pivot between rival elites, enabling it to join successive coalitions. His prior role as health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic and his high-profile campaign to decriminalize cannabis raised his national profile.
Short-term implications include increased political uncertainty as a minority government governs without the People’s Party in cabinet. Economic policy and reform timelines may hinge on the proposed referendum and the promised election within four months.
Potential immediate pressures:
- Negotiations to expand the coalition to pass budgets and legislation.
- Public reactions to a rapid timetable for constitutional change and elections.
- Legal clarity around Thaksin’s status if the court rules against him.
Official Statements
“I prayed to my parents,”
Anutin Charnvirakul, arriving at parliament
“I will be back in Thailand by September 8 to personally attend court on the 9th,”
Thaksin Shinawatra, social media post
Unconfirmed
- Whether the Supreme Court will count Thaksin’s hospital stay as time served — ruling expected next week.
- Exact timing and scope of the planned constitutional amendments and referendum details remain to be announced.
Bottom Line
Anutin’s ascent ends an immediate leadership vacuum and deepens Pheu Thai’s crisis, but his minority government faces fragile political alliances and pressing economic problems. The pledged referendum and a promised election within four months will be pivotal tests for his administration and for Thailand’s political balance.