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, uncertainty continues for Thailand which has experienced several deposed governments due to 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. Early on Friday, he posted on social media saying that he had flown to Dubai for medical treatment and that he intends to return for a court case that could put him back in jail.
His Pheu Thai party, once a major force in the 2023 elections, is now sidelined. It had one last candidate for PM, Chaikasem Nitisiri, who has little public profile and is in poor health.
In the past, the Shinawatras' populist policies gained them popular support among lower-income Thais, but this often put them at odds with Bangkok's conservative-royalist elite.
Both Thaksin and his sister Yingluck were ousted from power by military coups in 2006 and 2014, respectively. Paetongtarn's brief tenure and subsequent dismissal signify the continuing struggle for influence against the royalist establishment.
Paetongtarn was the fifth Thai prime minister to be removed from office by the Constitutional Court, all affiliated with her influential family.
Following her dismissal, Anutin's challenge is to navigate through this political storm, now facing a coalition born out of very fragile alliances, particularly with the People's Party which poses tough demands.
To govern effectively, Anutin agreed to call for elections within four months and consider reforms to the military-drafted constitution. His term begins with significant pressure to stabilize a tumultuous political landscape in Thailand.
Anutin Charnvirakul, a seasoned politician with a royalist stance and notable health policies, faces the critical task of leading Thailand amidst ongoing uncertainties rife with historical rivalries.
