Overview

• Parliament selected the Bhumjaithai leader with 311 of 492 votes, defeating Pheu Thai’s Chaikasem Nitisiri, who received 152.
• The opposition People’s Party supplied crucial votes but will stay out of the government.
• Support from the People’s Party is conditioned on dissolving the House within four months and starting constitutional change, including a referendum pushed by the party.
• Anutin’s appointment still requires formal endorsement by King Maha Vajiralongkorn before a government can take office.
• Hours before the vote, Thaksin Shinawatra flew to Dubai ahead of a Supreme Court decision next week on his early release, saying he will return to attend the hearing.