Thailand's parliament voted for its 32nd prime minister at 10 a.m. today. A special session of the 492-member House of Representatives was convened on the evening of 4/9, after acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai's attempt to dissolve the body failed.

In the House session, prime ministerial candidates were chosen from party lists submitted before the 2023 general election. Each candidate had to receive the support of at least 50 members of parliament.

The voting process was conducted publicly, with MPs called alphabetically to declare their choice. To win, a candidate must secure at least 247 votes.

Anutin Charnvirakul (left) and Chaikasem Nitisiri. Photo: Reuters, Bangkok Post

Anutin Charnvirakul (left) and Chaikasem Nitisiri. Photo: Reuters, Bangkok Post

If no candidate achieves this number, the House of Representatives will reconvene and repeat the election process until a winner is found. If the House identifies a winner, House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha will submit the name to the King to request a decree appointing the new prime minister.

Today's vote featured two candidates: Anutin Charnvirakul, 58, leader of the Bhumjaithai party, and Chaikasem Nitisiri, 77, representing the Pheu Thai party.

With the backing of 143 MPs from the People's Party and his own 146-member coalition, Anutin was predicted to become Thailand's 32nd prime minister. Chaikasem was expected to receive support from only 196 MPs from the Pheu Thai party and its allied parties.

If neither Anutin nor Chaikasem wins, political deadlock could ensue, leading to a scramble to build coalitions.

Former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was removed from office by the Constitutional Court of Thailand on 29/8 for violating public ethics rules in a phone call with Hun Sen. She was the fifth Thai prime minister to be removed by the Constitutional Court in the past 17 years.

Ngoc Anh (Reuters, AFP, Thai PBS)