Thailand's parliament has chosen business tycoon Anutin Charnvirakul as the country's prime minister - the third in two years, after yet another leader was removed from office.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who belongs to Thailand's most powerful political dynasty, was removed by the constitutional court last week for ethical violations over her handling of the border dispute with Cambodia.
Anutin's Bhumjaithai party broke from the coalition led by the Shinawatras' Pheu Thai and secured enough support in parliament to win the premiership. However, the uncertainty may not be over for Thailand, which has seen multiple administrations deposed by court interventions and military coups in the recent past.
Anutin's rise to the premiership deals a significant blow to the Shinawatra family, which has dominated Thai politics since 2001, when Paetongtarn's father Thaksin became PM.
On Thursday night there was intense scrutiny in Thailand of a private jet carrying Thaksin out of the country. He posted on social media saying that he had flown to Dubai for medical treatment and that he intends to return in time for a 9 September hearing for a court case that could put him back in jail.
His Pheu Thai party, which emerged as a major player in the 2023 election, is now on the sidelines.
In the past, the Shinawatras' populist policies gave them wide support among lower-income Thais, but put them at odds with Bangkok's conservative-royalist elite. Both Thaksin and his sister Yingluck were ousted by military coups.
Paetongtarn was the fifth Thai prime minister to be removed from office by the Constitutional Court, all from administrations backed by her father Thaksin. She herself had taken office after her predecessor was dismissed by the same court.
Anutin, 58, is a seasoned politician and dealmaker who in the past has made no secret of wanting the top job. His party Bhumjaithai has only 69 seats out of 500 in parliament, which means he needs the backing of larger parties.
Anutin is known for liberalizing Thailand's marijuana laws when he was health minister in 2022 and is an enthusiastic pilot, owning three planes.
The challenge ahead for Anutin is significant as he must navigate a political landscape fraught with instability and manage the complex demands of differing political interests within a limited timeframe.
