Factbox-Thailand's Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul

Anutin Charnvirakul: Thailand’s Prime Minister and His Political Journey

Anutin Charnvirakul’s Rise and Impact in Thai Politics

BANGKOK, March 19 (Reuters) - Thailand's parliament has reelected as prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the 59-year-old leader of the Bhumjaithai party, following a decisive win in February's general election.

Path to Premiership

• Becoming Prime Minister

  • Anutin first became prime minister in September 2025 after manoeuvring swiftly to challenge the then-ruling Pheu Thai Party just hours after the dismissal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra from the role, after the Constitutional Court found she had violated ethical rules.

• Role in Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s Downfall

  • Anutin had contributed to her downfall months earlier, while deputy prime minister, by withdrawing Bhumjaithai from Paetongtarn's coalition after a damaging leak of her telephone call with influential former Cambodian leader Hun Sen over a border dispute. The call became the basis for Paetongtarn's eventual removal.

• Support from the Opposition

  • The then opposition People's Party backed Anutin to be prime minister in return for his promise to dissolve parliament within four months.

• Parliament Dissolution and Election Victory

  • Amid a raging border conflict with Cambodia and growing prospects of a no-confidence vote after a spat with People's Party, Anutin dissolved parliament last December, heading off the likely collapse of his minority government.
  • With Bhumjaithai far adrift of People's Party in pre-election opinion polls, Anutin's party successfully rode a wave of nationalism to a surprise election victory in February, with 191 seats.

Political Career

• Early Political Involvement

  • Started in politics with Thai Rak Thai, the party founded by billionaire and former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn's father.
  • Briefly held deputy ministerial roles in health and commerce successively under Thaksin in 2004, before returning to the health portfolio in 2005.

• Political Setbacks and Comeback

  • Banned from politics for five years after Thai Rak Thai was dissolved in 2007.
  • Returned in 2012 as leader of Bhumjaithai, which has northeastern strongholds and won 70 seats in the 2023 election.

• Ministerial Roles and Achievements

  • As health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was credited with reopening Thailand to foreign tourism, a key driver of the economy.
  • Served as interior minister and deputy prime minister in the Pheu Thai-led government from 2023.

• Cannabis Legalization Efforts

  • Led a successful effort to free up use of cannabis, wearing a cannabis leaf pattern shirt while voting in 2023.
  • The legal changes boosted recreational use and the number of cannabis shops, upsetting conservatives and leading to Pheu Thai's plans to recriminalise non-medical marijuana.

• Relationship with the Monarchy and Political Establishment

  • He is close to the monarchy, recently accompanying King Maha Vajiralongkorn on visits to Bhutan, China and Laos, while positioning himself as part of both a regional political dynasty and the royalist-conservative establishment.

Family and Business

• Family Background

  • Nicknamed Noo, or "mouse" in Thai, he is the son of Chavarat Charnvirakul, a businessman-politician and former caretaker prime minister.

• Business Interests

  • Heir to his family's construction firm, Stecon Group, which built Bangkok's parliament buildings.
  • Anutin has a degree in industrial engineering from New York's Hofstra University.

• Connections and Personal Interests

  • Keeps close ties to business elites and influential political figures such as Newin Chidchob, who has a stronghold in Thailand's northeast.
  • His interests include recreational flying and collecting Buddhist amulets.

Compiled by Chaut Setboonsarng, Thanadech Staporncharnchai and Orathai Sriring; Editing by John Mair, Martin Petty and Clarence Fernandez