Thailand's parliament has chosen business tycoon Anutin Charnvirakul as the country's prime minister - the third in two years, after yet another leader was removed from office.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who belongs to Thailand's most powerful political dynasty, was removed by the constitutional court last week for ethical violations over her handling of the border dispute with Cambodia.
Anutin's Bhumjaithai party broke from the coalition led by the Shinawatras' Pheu Thai and secured enough support in parliament to win the premiership.
However, uncertainty continues for Thailand, which has seen multiple administrations deposed by court interventions and military coups in the recent past.
Anutin's rise to the premiership is a significant blow to the Shinawatra family that has dominated Thai politics since 2001 when Paetongtarn's father Thaksin became PM. On Thursday night, scrutiny intensified around a private jet carrying Thaksin out of the country. He later posted on social media saying he had flown to Dubai for medical treatment and intends to return for a court case that could put him back in jail.
This political shift places the Shinawatras on the sidelines, with only one remaining candidate for PM, Chaikasem Nitisiri, having a low public profile and poor health.
In the past, the Shinawatras' populist policies garnered support among lower-income Thais but created tension with Bangkok's conservative-royalist elite. Both Thaksin and his sister Yingluck, who served as prime minister after him, were ousted in military coups in 2006 and 2014 respectively. Paetongtarn's initial appointment seemed like a comeback for the family, but her dismissal suggests a lost favor with the elite.
Paetongtarn was the fifth Thai prime minister to be removed from office by the Constitutional Court, all from administrations backed by her father Thaksin. Anutin’s path to leadership is marked by complexities, necessitating support from larger party coalitions.
Anutin Charnvirakul, 58, is a seasoned politician whose Bhumjaithai party holds only 69 out of 500 parliamentary seats, forcing him to govern with the backing of larger parties. His party, known for being unideological, has had previous affiliations with conservative groups and recently distanced itself from Pheu Thai.
The only viable option for forming a government arose with the progressive People's Party, although their partnership remains unlikely given divergent ideologies.
With growing demands for early elections and constitutional reform, Anutin's leadership faces immediate scrutiny as he takes office amid an ongoing political crisis.
