Persistent political turmoil has a way of blurring the lines between change and continuity. So it is with Thailand, where veteran politician Anutin Charnvirakul was elected prime minister in a parliamentary vote Friday, convincingly defeating the ruling coalition’s preferred candidate. Anutin will be the country’s third leader in as many years.
His election caps off a week of drama and intrigue that began when the powerful Constitutional Court ousted his predecessor, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, ruling she had committed an ethical lapse during a leaked phone call in June with Cambodia’s former leader, Hun Sen. That incident prompted Anutin’s conservative Bhumjaithai party to withdraw from the coalition and position itself as an alternative to Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai party.
Known as a well-connected dealmaker, Anutin was able to secure the support of the largest political party in the lower house of the National Assembly, the progressive People’s Party. He is expected to be sworn in in the coming days.
