Staff Correspondent
Thailand has once again seen a change in leadership. Right-wing business tycoon and seasoned politician Anutin Charnvirakul has been elected as the country’s new Prime Minister. Following last week’s court verdict that removed former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, Anutin officially assumed responsibility on Friday (September 5). This marks the third prime ministerial change in just two years.
The 58-year-old Anutin previously served as Deputy Prime Minister, Interior Minister, and Health Minister. Analysts believe this shift is a major setback for the Shinawatra family, who have held significant influence in Thai politics since Thaksin Shinawatra became Prime Minister in 2001.
Political tensions further escalated after former Prime Minister Thaksin left the country on Thursday night in a private jet. Later, in a social media post, he announced that he had traveled to Dubai for medical treatment but would return on September 9 to attend a court hearing. If convicted, he faces the risk of being sent back to prison.
It is worth noting that while the Shinawatra family’s populist policies earned them strong support from low-income Thais, they have long been at odds with Bangkok’s conservative royalist elites. Both Thaksin and his sister Yingluck were previously ousted from power in military coups in 2006 and 2014, respectively.