Thai policymaker becomes prime minister

Anutin Charnvirakul, a veteran politician best known for successfully lobbying to decriminalize cannabis in Thailand, became the country’s prime minister after receiving a royal endorsement.

- BY JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI

ANUTIN Charnvirakul helped legalize cannabis.

Anutin, 58, succeeds Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party, who was dismissed last month after being found guilty of ethics violations over a politically compromising phone call with neighboring Cambodia’s Senate president, Hun Sen.

The phone call took place 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 in the region.

Anutin served in Paetongtarn's Cabinet as a deputy prime minister and an Interior minister, but resigned from his positions and withdrew his party from her coalition government after news of the leaked phone call caused a public uproar.

New coalition

Anutin received a letter of appointment in a ceremony at his Bhumjaithai Party's headquarters in Bangkok, attended by senior members of parties expected to join his coalition government. They wore white civil servants’ uniforms used for royal and state ceremonies.

“I'd like to take an oath that I determine to perform my duties to my fullest capabilities, with honesty and virtue,” he said, reading a statement after receiving the endorsement Sunday.