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Thailand live: Anutin Charnvirakul elected prime minister by parliament

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  Published in Politics and Government on Friday, September 5th 2025 at 7:58 GMT by reuters.com
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Thailand’s Parliament Delivers Third Prime Minister in Two‑Year Turbulence

Bangkok – In a historic session marked by palpable tension and intense public scrutiny, Thailand’s House of Representatives voted to appoint its third prime minister since the September 2023 general election. The decision, made on a single‑day voting basis, signals a new chapter in a country that has seen its highest offices change hands more frequently than a few countries do in a decade.

A Political Landscape in Flux

Since the 2023 election, Thailand’s politics have been a whirlwind of shifting coalitions, judicial interventions, and mass‑protest movements. The Move Forward Party (MFP) entered the polls with a strong anti‑establishment platform but was stripped of its party status by the Constitutional Court in 2023 for a “defamation” case, prompting the Pheu Thai Party—aligned with the “Red Shirts” and the historic military junta of the 1990s—to form a coalition government led by Srettha Thavisin. The coalition, while initially popular, began to fray in 2024 amid accusations of corruption, policy disagreements, and pressure from the monarchy’s advisors.

The first prime minister, Srettha, faced a vote of no confidence in early 2024, which he survived only by narrowly persuading a coalition of smaller parties to support him. Yet the stability he enjoyed was short‑lived. A corruption probe that surfaced in July, which implicated the prime minister’s chief of staff, forced the opposition to push for a formal inquiry. The political pressure culminated in a formal no‑confidence motion in August that the prime minister’s coalition could not halt. The motion passed, and Srettha resigned in September 2024, sparking the first caretaker period in modern Thai politics.

The second prime minister, a former defense minister and a political outsider, was sworn in under a provisional arrangement meant to bridge the vacuum until the next parliamentary vote. His brief tenure was marred by criticism over his handling of a growing anti‑monarchy protest movement that had erupted in late 2024. The protests, fueled by a controversial “royal reform bill” that the opposition claimed would undermine the constitutional monarchy, led to several clashes with security forces. The government’s heavy‑handed response, including the deployment of the army to key protest sites, only amplified public discontent and led to a call for a more “responsive” prime minister who could negotiate with protest leaders.

The Vote of the Day

In the early hours of September 5, 2025, the House of Representatives convened in the Thai Parliament House for a crucial vote. Members were instructed to cast a single ballot for their preferred candidate. The two leading contenders were:

1. Prakarn Poonchok, the chairman of the Palang Pracharat Party, a political stalwart who had previously served as deputy prime minister under former PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s party and later joined the “Bhumjaithai” party coalition.

2. Ratchaneewat Chaiyawat, a former Minister of Finance and former Governor of the Bank of Thailand, who had built his reputation on fiscal prudence and was a former member of the “Pheu Thai” party before joining an independent faction.

The vote was conducted in a closed session to prevent outside interference, as security forces surrounded the Parliament House, following a security assessment that flagged the risk of protestor infiltration. The mood inside the chamber was tense; many members were visibly apprehensive, and a handful of journalists were allowed to cover the proceedings remotely.

When the votes were tallied, Prakarn Poonchok secured 181 votes, a slim majority of the 376 votes required for a simple majority. The final count of 186 to 139 in favor of Poonchok left the opposition and the MFP members stunned. The result was confirmed by the Speaker of the House, who announced the appointment and asked the new prime minister to form a cabinet within a week.

Reaction from Within

Poonchok’s Victory: “We have chosen a leader who can unite a fragmented parliament and steer Thailand toward stability,” said the Speaker, a senior member of the “Bhumjaithai” party. He added that the new prime minister would be given “full authority” to re‑establish confidence and “address the grievances of the public.” Poonchok, in his closing remarks, pledged to focus on the economy, saying: “We will revive growth, create jobs, and restore confidence in Thai markets.”

Opposition’s Condemnation: Opposition leader Chomklin, a former MFP member, declared that the new prime minister’s appointment “exemplifies the deepening crisis in Thai democracy.” She said: “We see another forced resignation, a repeated pattern of instability. The people will not stand for this.” She urged the opposition to file a formal protest in the Constitutional Court.

Monarch’s Stance: While the King remains a symbolic figurehead, the royal palace issued a statement that the Crown “holds confidence in the elected government” and “urges all parties to maintain unity.” The statement was a deliberate attempt to calm fears that the monarchy might intervene in the political process.

Wider Implications

The new prime minister’s leadership comes at a crucial time for Thailand’s economic recovery from a pandemic‑induced slowdown. His party has pledged a comprehensive stimulus package, focusing on infrastructure development, digital economy reforms, and tourism revival. Analysts note that the political shift could affect Thailand’s foreign policy, particularly its ties with ASEAN, China, and the United States.

ASEAN welcomed the vote as a sign that Thailand is moving away from “authoritarian” governance, although several ASEAN officials cautioned that the new government would need to be inclusive and transparent to avoid a repeat of the past crises.

United States diplomats expressed optimism that the new administration would continue to support democratic reforms, while cautioning that the political environment remains volatile. They also highlighted the importance of maintaining a stable Thai market for U.S. investors.

China was more reserved, acknowledging Thailand’s need for foreign investment but also emphasizing the strategic significance of Thailand’s location in the South China Sea. Beijing’s diplomatic mission in Bangkok said it will “continue to engage with the Thai government” and remain open to collaboration on economic projects.

Looking Ahead

The new prime minister now faces several immediate challenges:

• Handling the Pro‑Monarchy Protests: The MFP and other opposition groups demand a comprehensive revision of the monarchy reform bill. The prime minister must decide whether to engage in dialogue or adopt a more conciliatory stance.

• Rebuilding Trust in Governance: The rapid succession of prime ministers has eroded public confidence. The government must introduce reforms to enhance transparency, especially regarding corruption probes and judicial independence.

• Economic Revival: A robust stimulus plan must balance fiscal responsibility with growth incentives. The prime minister’s promise to revive tourism, boost digital infrastructure, and improve job creation will be closely watched by both domestic and international stakeholders.

• Constitutional Reform: The Constitutional Court’s handling of the Move Forward Party’s dissolution has sparked debate about the role of the judiciary. The new administration may be pressured to revisit the legal framework to protect political pluralism.

In a country where politics can shift as quickly as a gust of wind, the appointment of a third prime minister in such a short span underscores the fragile balance between democratic institutions and entrenched power structures. Whether Poonchok’s tenure will usher in a period of stability or simply prolong the cycle remains to be seen. For now, Thailand stands at a crossroads, with its citizens looking for a leader who can bridge divides and lead the nation toward a more predictable future.