March 19, New Delhi: Thailand's newly elected parliament has chosen Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister, according to media reports, keeping the conservative leader in the top office despite his party's decisive victory over its rivals in the election.
According to a tally by AFP journalists, Anutin secured the 250 votes needed to win the premiership, as voting continued. Anutin's Bhumjaithai party, which supports the military and monarchy, achieved its best-ever electoral performance in February following two rounds of deadly clashes with Cambodia last year.
The third-placed Pheu Thai party, led by jailed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, agreed to join Anutin in a coalition along with several smaller parties.
The 59-year-old millionaire heir to a family construction fortune, who championed the decriminalisation of cannabis in Thailand, was first elected prime minister in September.
(File Photo)