Thailand's new Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul received a royal endorsement by King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Sunday (September 7), two days after Anutin breezed through a parliamentary vote, trouncing the candidate of the Shinawatra family's once-dominant ruling party to end a week of chaos and political deadlock.

Anutin got down on his knees and paid homage to a portrait of the king at the Bhumjaithai Party's headquarters, before paying respects to his family in attendance.

The new PM's rout of rival contender Chaikasem Nitisiri on Friday (September 5) was a humiliation for the ruling Pheu Thai party, the populist juggernaut of influential billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra, who left Thailand late on Thursday (September 4) for Dubai, where he spent the bulk of his 15 years of self-imposed exile.

The political crisis was triggered in June by Anutin's withdrawal from Pheu Thai's alliance, followed by last week's dismissal by a Thai court of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin's daughter and protege.

Anutin, a conservative with a pull across party lines, won power after forging a pact with the progressive opposition People's Party, the largest force in parliament, obtaining its support with promises to hold a referendum on amending the constitution and call an election within four months.

He urged unity late on Friday, saying all sides had to work together to "move our country forward in the speed that could compensate the opportunities that were lost" and that the government would "strictly enforce the law".

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BANGKOK, THAILAND (SEPTEMBER 7, 2025)

1. TWO SHOTS OF THAILAND'S NEW PRIME MINISTER, ANUTIN CHARNVIRAKUL, KNEELING DOWN IN FRONT OF PORTRAIT OF THAILAND'S KING MAHA VAJIRALONGKORN TO PAY RESPECTS DURING ROYAL ENDORSEMENT

2. VARIOUS OF ANUTIN KNEELING TO GREET HIS FATHER AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS

3. ANUTIN SHAKING HANDS WITH OTHER OFFICIALS

4. PEOPLE GATHERED FOR CEREMONY

5. ANUTIN HUGGING HIS SON

6. PEOPLE GATHERED FOR CEREMONY

7. ANUTIN AND FAMILY MEMBERS POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPH