Anutin Charnvirakul, a veteran politician best known for successfully lobbying to decriminalise cannabis in Thailand, became the country's Prime Minister after receiving a royal endorsement on Sunday (September 7, 2025), two days after he was chosen by Parliament following a court order that removed his predecessor.
Mr. Anutin, 58, succeeds Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party, dismissed last week after being found guilty of ethics violations over a politically compromising phone call with neighbouring Cambodia's Senate President Hun Sen before a border dispute between the two nations turned into a deadly five-day armed conflict in July that raised fears of a full-blown war in the region.
Thailand's new Prime Minister had served in Paetongtarn's Cabinet as a deputy Prime Minister and an Interior Minister, but resigned his positions and withdrew his party from her coalition government after news of the leaked phone call caused public uproar.
What we know about Thailand’s new Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul
Mr. Anutin received the letter of appointment in a ceremony at his party Bhumjaithai's headquarters in Bangkok, attended by senior members of parties expected to join his coalition government. They wore white civil servants' uniforms used for royal and state ceremonies.
