Anutin secured over 247 votes from MPs to become the new prime minister, defeating Chaikasem Nitisiri, the Pheu Thai Party’s nominee, reports the Bangkok Post.
Under the Constitution, a candidate must win at least 247 votes from the 492-member House of Representatives to take office.
The House of Representatives began proceedings to nominate candidates for Thailand’s next prime at 11:35 this morning. Deputy House Speaker Chaiya Promma, who chaired the meeting, asked MPs to vote whether to move forward urgent agenda item No. 8 - the approval of a person deemed suitable for appointment as prime minister under Section 159 of the Constitution.
Following over an hour of debate, MPs voted 313 to 142, with four abstentions and five not voting, to move forward with deliberation on prime ministerial nominations as a priority agenda item.
Before the nomination process began, the deputy House speaker outlined the criteria. Under parliamentary rules, a nominee must be on a party’s prime ministerial list filed under Section 88, with the nominating party holding at least 5% of House seats (25 MPs or more). Each nomination must be endorsed by at least 50 MPs, representing no less than one-tenth of all members.
However, the process was delayed after Pheu Thai MP for Loei Saran Timsuwan sought clarification on whether MPs would be allowed to debate the nominees before voting, as had been the case with previous prime ministerial selections involving Pita Limjaroenrat, Srettha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The meeting agreed that debates would be permitted but could not reach consensus on time limits, sparking prolonged discussions.
At about 12:05pm, the meeting proceeded with nominations. Bhumjaithai Party MP for Buri Ram and party secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob nominated party leader Anutin. Pheu Thai secretary-general Sorawong Thienthong, also Sa Kaeo MP, nominated Chaikasem Nitisiri, the party’s prime ministerial candidate and former attorney-general.