Anutin Charnvirakul, the veteran Thai politician credited with pushing cannabis decriminalisation, has officially become Thailand’s new prime minister after receiving a royal endorsement. The 58-year-old replaces Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was dismissed over ethics violations linked to a controversial phone call with Cambodia’s Senate President
Anutin Charnvirakul paying respects to an image of Thai king Maha Vajiralongkorn during the royal endorsement ceremony. Pic/AFP
Anutin Charnvirakul, a veteran politician best known for successfully lobbying to decriminalise cannabis in Thailand, became the country’s prime minister after receiving a royal endorsement on Sunday, two days after he was chosen by Parliament following a court order that removed his predecessor.
Anutin, 58, succeeds Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party, dismissed last week after being found guilty of ethics violations over a politically compromising phone call with neighbouring Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen before a border dispute between the two nations turned into a deadly five-day armed conflict in July that raised fears of a full-blown war.
Thailand’s new prime minister had served in Paetongtarn’s Cabinet as a deputy prime minister and an interior minister, but resigned his positions and withdrew his party from her coalition government after news of the leaked phone call caused public uproar.
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