Thailand has a new prime minister — and it’s not a Shinawatra.
On Friday, parliament voted in billionaire construction tycoon Anutin Charnvirakul, a right-wing power player.
He managed to stitch together a coalition and edge out the country’s most dominant political dynasty of the last 20 years.
For decades, the Shinawatras have been a fixture of Thai politics, winning elections with populist policies.
But they clashed bitterly with the pro-military, pro-monarchy establishment that sees them as disruptive outsiders.
Their latest chapter ended abruptly last week when Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former premier Thaksin, was ousted by a court ruling.
Into that power vacuum stepped Anutin — fast, calculated, and clearly prepared.
Thailand Enters A New Political Chapter
By rallying opposition blocs, he blocked Pheu Thai from clinging to power and secured 311 of 492 parliamentary votes, a clear majority.
Meanwhile, Thaksin himself slipped quietly out of the country, reportedly en route to Dubai for “medical treatment” and to visit friends.
The timing? Let’s just say it raised eyebrows.
So what does this mean for Thailand? Supporters of the establishment cheer the Shinawatras’ fall.
Critics warn that swapping dynastic populism for billionaire-backed conservatism may not heal Thailand’s deep divides.
Either way, the Shinawatra era is over — at least for now.
