Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, defeated Chaikasem Nitisiri of the Pheu Thai Party in a House vote today, becoming the new prime minister of Thailand.
Anutin, 59, secured 311 votes from the 490 MPs present at the session, while Chaikasem received 152, with 27 abstentions.
He will replace Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was ousted by the Constitutional Court over her controversial conversation with Cambodia’s Hun Sen.
His election as Thailand’s 32nd prime minister comes just days before his birthday on September 13, making it an unexpected gift.
-----------------------------
As Thailand faces another political shake-up today, with a new prime minister being voted in by the House of Representatives, Thai PBS World will keep our readers updated on the process. Please stay tuned with us.
-----------------------
4.16pm - Anutin is declared to be the 32nd prime minister of Thailand. Anutin, 59, secured 311 votes from the 490 MPs present at the session, while Chaikasem received 152, with 27 abstentions.
3:08pm – A glitch briefly interrupts the voting, but once resolved, the process continues..
3pm - Voting the new prime minister begins. The vote will be conducted openly, with MPs called individually and in alphabetical order to declare their choice to approve, disapprove or abstain. To win, a candidate must secure more than half of the votes, or at least 247.
2.55pm – The debate concludes, and Deputy House Speaker Promma announces that voting for the new prime minister will begin. He appoints a team of MPs as panelists to count the votes.
12.15pm - Voting for the two prime ministerial candidates cannot begin yet, as the chamber remains open for MPs to debate the nominees. Each side is allowed one hour to present their case.”
12.08pm – Pheu Thai Secretary-General Sorawong Thienthong nominates Chaikasem Nitisiri for prime minister.
12:06pm – Bhumjaithai Party MP Chaichanok Chidchob nominates party leader Anutin Charnvirakul for prime minister.
11.35am - The House starts the session to select the new premier.
11.33am - Of the 464 MPs attending the session, 313 voted to move up the session, 142 voted against, four abstained, and five did not vote.
11.32am – Deputy House Speaker Chaiya Promma orders a vote on whether to bring forward the prime ministerial selection session.
11.15am - Debates on whether to advance the selection of the new prime minister are ongoing.
10.14am – Wan Muhamad opens the floor for MPs to voice their opinions for and against bringing forward the selection of the new prime minister.
10am – MPs debate a proposal on whether to move up the session to select the 32nd prime minister of Thailand
9.45am - Nan Bunthida Somchai, a Bhumjaithai MP for Ubon Ratchathani province, proposes that the House bring forward the session to vote for the new prime minister.
9.30am – House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha opens the parliamentary session.
9.25am - Democrat Party MPs held a meeting at the Parliament building and resolved that they will abstain from voting in the parliamentary session to select the new prime minister.
