PM Anutin takes charge in Thailand as Mideast chaos pressures economy

2026.03.19 06:20 Anutin Charnvirakul reacts at parliament in Bangkok on Thursday. Photo: AFP Thailand’s new parliament elected Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister on Thursday, keeping the conservative in the top office after his party routed its election rivals with a nationalist campaign. The Southeast Asian nation’s next government will have to handle the fallout from the Middle East conflict, sluggish economic growth and lingering border tensions with neighbour Cambodia. “I hope to remain in my position to serve the people for as long as I can,” Anutin told reporters ahead of the parliamentary vote on Thursday. “Those who know me understand that whenever there is a problem affecting the public, I will respond immediately to their needs.” Anutin’s pro-military and pro-monarchy Bhumjaithai party had its best electoral performance ever in February after two rounds of deadly border clashes with Cambodia last year. Bhumjaithai promised to build a wall on the Cambodian frontier, keep all border crossings closed and recruit 100,000 volunteer soldiers, winning the most seats of any party and putting Anutin in pole position to head the next government. The third-placed Pheu Thai party of jailed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra agreed to join him in a coalition alongside several smaller parties. The 59-year-old millionaire heir to a family construction fortune, who championed the decriminalisation of cannabis in Thailand, was first elected prime minister in September. He came to office after his predecessor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s daughter, was ousted by court order over an ethics complaint. In a leaked phone conversation, Paetongtarn referred to former Cambodian leader Hun Sen as “uncle” and called a Thai military commander her “opponent”, triggering public and political outrage. The Pheu Thai-led government fell after Anutin pulled Bhumjaithai out of the then coalition, and parliament later elected him prime minister. The reformist People’s Party, wh

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