China congratulates Thai leader Anutin of Pheu Thai on his election as prime minister and pledges to contribute to regional peace
Thailand will elect a new prime minister today (the 5th). The Nation and the Bangkok Post reported yesterday that the Secretariat of the House of Representatives has notified members of the House of Representatives to select a suitable candidate for the position of Prime Minister. The election of a new prime minister is now officially on the agenda for today’s parliamentary session. Thai media outlets are stating that the parliamentary vote on the 5th will be a crucial turning point in Thailand’s political landscape, not only determining the new prime minister’s selection but also profoundly impacting the future structure of the ruling coalition and the direction of national development. The latest news this afternoon is that Anutin, leader of the Pheu Thai Party, has been selected as Thailand’s next prime minister.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs congratulated Anutin on his election, emphasizing that the bond between China and Thailand remains strong over time. The spokesperson noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Thailand. China stands ready to work with Thailand to promote traditional friendship, strengthen strategic communication, deepen practical cooperation, and advance greater progress in building a China-Thailand community with a shared future, thereby contributing positively to regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity.
Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the conservative Pheu Thai Party, the second-largest opposition party, said before the parliamentary vote that he had secured the support of 146 MPs from seven political parties. Together with the People’s Party’s 143 votes, he is expected to secure a majority in the lower house and become Thailand’s prime minister.
However, what caught the public’s attention was that former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and a group of five family members suddenly left Thailand on a private plane on Thursday evening to handle personal matters in Singapore. He was accompanied by his daughter, Pingthongta. He obtained a departure permit and promised to return home on Friday afternoon.
On August 29, Thailand’s Constitutional Court voted 6-3 to rule that the removal of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office was unconstitutional. Constitutionally, all cabinet members were also required to resign, with Acting Prime Minister Putan leading the remaining cabinet members in a caretaker role until a new cabinet was formed. Since then, the executive position of Prime Minister has remained vacant.
The Thai National Assembly, backed by the People’s Party
, announced on Wednesday evening (3rd) that the House of Representatives will convene on the 5th to elect a new prime minister to lead the next government. All five candidates nominated for the 2023 general election are eligible as prime ministerial candidates, including Anutin.
Anutin, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, displays a cooperation agreement signed with the People’s Party.
Since Phethongthan was dismissed as prime minister, the battle for the prime ministership has intensified among Thai political parties. The People’s Party, the largest opposition party, which controls nearly a third of the seats in the lower house of parliament, has become the focal point of the struggle between the ruling party and the Bhumjaithai Party.
Agence France-Presse reported that the Thai Proud Pheu Thai Party led by Anutin has won the support of the People’s Party, the largest party in parliament but the opposition, and it seems to be a sure thing to form a government. He is expected to replace Petunthan, who was dismissed by the Constitutional Court last week.
Petunthan was removed from his post as prime minister for violating ethical standards for politicians. Reuters
previously reported that Petunthan’s party had intended to dissolve parliament and call new elections. However, Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced today (September 4) that royal officials had rejected the ruling party’s request to dissolve parliament. On his Facebook page, Phumtham stated that the Privy Council Chambers, appointed by the king, had informed him that it was “not appropriate to submit a draft bill to dissolve parliament to the king” at this time due to “contentious legal issues.”
Petunthan’s father is former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. This family, which has dominated Thai politics for 20 years, is now facing unprecedented challenges.
The Thaksin family once dominated Thai politics. Reuters’
Anutin comes from a different political and business dynasty. His father, Chavarat Charnvirakul, served as acting prime minister during the 2008 political crisis and then as interior minister for three years. The family’s Sino-Thai Engineering company secured major government projects, including the capital’s main airport and the parliament building.
During the pandemic, Anutin learned to fly a plane
and became an industrial engineer in New York. He entered Thai politics in his early 30s, initially serving as an advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and subsequently held positions as Minister of Health, Minister of the Interior, and Deputy Prime Minister. His nickname, Noo, means “rat” in Thai. Despite his immense wealth, he maintains a down-to-earth style and a preference for street food. He can often be seen on social media wearing a T-shirt and shorts, cooking, or playing 1980s pop songs on his saxophone or piano.
He served in Thaksin Shinawatra’s then-party, Thai Rak Thai, but was banned from politics for five years after the party was dissolved in 2007. During that time, he learned to fly and even formed a small fleet of aircraft to help patients get medical treatment and transport organs.
Anutin later returned to politics, leading his Thai Pride Party to its best-ever victory in the 2023 general election, becoming the third-largest party in Parliament. The party, a political chameleon, has participated in numerous ruling coalitions, allowing Anutin to serve as deputy to nearly three prime ministers.
He garnered global attention as health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also sparked controversy by blaming Western tourists for spreading the virus by not wearing masks, for which he was later forced to apologize. On the other hand, he fulfilled his pre-election promise to legalize marijuana, putting Thailand on the international news.
In June this year, after the content of the controversial border call between former Cambodian leader Hun Sen and then Prime Minister Prayut Thammud was leaked, he announced that he would lead the Pheu Thai Party to withdraw from the ruling coalition.
Now, Petunthan’s Pheu Thai Party is trying to block his bid for prime ministership.