On March 19, 2026, the Thai House of Representatives held a special session to elect a new Prime Minister according to the provisions of the Constitution. The session was chaired by Speaker of the House of Representatives Sophon Saram, taking place in the context of close public monitoring after the general election on February 8, 2026 - an event considered important for the political future of this Southeast Asian nation.
According to Article 159 of the Thai Constitution, the nomination of Prime Minister candidates must meet a number of strict conditions: Candidates must come from a party with at least 5% of seats in the House of Representatives (equivalent to at least 25 seats), and at the same time need the support of at least 1/10 of the total number of MPs (at least 50 people). Before voting, candidates must present their vision and direction for running the country before all MPs.
The vote count results showed that Mr. Anutin won 293 votes of support out of a total of 499 MPs, far exceeding the necessary threshold. His opponent Mr. Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut received 119 votes, while 86 MPs abstained.
This result means that the House of Representatives has officially elected Mr. Anutin - leader of the Bhumjaithai Party - as the 32nd Prime Minister of Thailand. Although this is the second consecutive term, he is still identified as the 32nd Prime Minister, not the 33rd.
Speaking before the vote took place, Mr. Anutin emphasized the spirit of cooperation and solidarity in the operation of the country. He said he was ready to work with parliamentarians from all parties, considering everyone as equal representatives of the Thai people.
He thanked the parliamentarians who nominated and supported him, and affirmed that he would listen to opinions from all sides, including critical views. According to him, receiving feedback and transforming it into specific actions is an important factor to improve the efficiency of national governance.
I will be a Prime Minister working with all representatives of the Thai people with all my ability, to bring the highest benefits and welfare to the country and people" - Mr. Anutin said.
In addition, he also mentioned the speech of the King of Thailand at the opening ceremony of the National Assembly on March 14 as an important direction for government activities. According to him, the correctness and interests of the people need to be put first, ensuring that all legislative and executive activities comply with the constitutional framework.
At the end of his speech, Mr. Anutin looked back at his previous term, when the government operated in a minority state - an unprecedented case in the Thai National Assembly. However, he believes that the government at that time still made certain progress in many fields, contributing to maintaining the country's development momentum.
He pledged that he and the cabinet will provide maximum support for legislative work, while striving to resolve outstanding issues with the highest efficiency.
Mr. Anutin's re-election as Thai Prime Minister with an overwhelming number of votes is seen as a signal of significant support in Parliament for his leadership role. In the context of Thailand entering a new stage after the election, this result may lay the foundation for a more stable government, while placing high expectations on the effectiveness of administration and the ability to harmonize interests between political forces.
