BANGKOK: Anutin Charnvirakul, who was confirmed by parliament on Friday as Thailand’s new prime minister, is a cautious and pragmatic politician adept at straddling the country’s political divide. He’s best known for leading a successful campaign to decriminalize cannabis in Thailand. The 58-year-old’s political ambitions have been supported by his family’s wealth and a strong regional power base in Thailand’s northeastern Isan region, where his Bhumjaithai party garners support from the large, rural population.

The decision came after the People’s Party said it will back tycoon Anutin Charnvirakul’s bid to form a new government.

Conservative Bhumjaithai party leader Anutin Charnvirakul gets main opposition party’s conditional backing to form interim government