BANGKOK – Anutin Charnvirakul has been confirmed as Thailand’s new prime minister, a role that reflects his cautious and pragmatic approach in navigating the country’s complex political landscape. He is recognized for spearheading the successful decriminalization of cannabis in Thailand, marking a significant shift in the nation’s drug policy. Anutin's political career has been bolstered by his family’s wealth and a strong base of support from the rural population in the northeastern Isan region, where his Bhumjaithai party is well established.
Anutin’s ability to traverse Thailand’s polarized political environment, which has been influenced heavily by the divide between supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the royalist-military establishment, is a hallmark of his political strategy. He previously served under Thaksin’s government from 2004 until the military coup in 2006. In 2019, he aligned with former Army Commander Prayuth Chan-ocha and took on the role of health minister, only to later become deputy prime minister and interior minister in a coalition government led by the Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai party in 2023.
However, Anutin's recent rise to power was facilitated by a gaffe from his predecessor. The alliance he was part of fractured in June when Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin's daughter and then Prime Minister, made controversial remarks during a private conversation with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen about border tensions. The leaked audio of this call caused significant public outrage and ultimately led to Paetongtarn's suspension and dismissal from her position by the Constitutional Court.
Anutin capitalized on this political vacuum, pulling his party out of the coalition and leaving it with a slim parliamentary majority. Scholars Napon Jatusripitak and Suthikarn Meechan described Anutin’s Bhumjaithai party as “the quintessential power broker,” emphasizing its pragmatic approach and adeptness in shifting political alliances.
Born in 1966 in Bangkok, Anutin is the son of politician and construction magnate Chavarat Charnvirakul. With a degree in engineering from Hofstra University in New York, he initially joined the family-owned Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction PCL, where he became managing director in 1995. The firm is recognized for its involvement in significant infrastructure projects, including Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.
His political ambitions began in 1996, aligning him with Thaksin’s Thai Rak Thai party, which won power in 2001. After serving in various deputy ministerial roles, he faced a five-year ban on political activity post-coup in 2006. During this period, he focused on the family business and developed his flying skills. Upon the expiration of his ban in 2012, he stepped up as the leader of Bhumjaithai, transforming it into a powerful political force in Thailand’s northeast.
Anutin achieved notable recognition for the 2022 decriminalization of cannabis, asserting it would boost the economy and improve public health by distributing one million free cannabis plants to households. While this policy generated economic optimism, it invited criticism due to a lack of regulatory frameworks, leading to widespread unregulated sales and public health concerns.
As public health minister, Anutin also managed Thailand's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, facing backlash for delayed vaccine acquisitions. Additionally, controversies have emerged regarding his integrity, including claims of improper conduct during Senate elections and his involvement in a contentious land dispute linked to a property claimed by his political mentor, Newin Chidchob.
