Prime Minister of Thailand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand
Prime Ministerial Standard
Prime Ministerial Seal
Incumbent Paetongtarn Shinawatra since 16 August 2024 (Suspended since 1 July 2025) Acting Prime Minister  Phumtham Wechayachai since 3 July 2025
Royal Thai Government Office of the Prime Minister
Style	Acting Prime Minister (informal) The Honourable (formal) His Excellency (diplomatic)
Member of	Cabinet of Thailand National Security Council Internal Security Operations Command
Reports to	National Assembly
Residence	Phitsanulok Mansion
Seat	Government House
Nominator	House of Representatives
Appointer	Monarch by royal command
Term length	Four years, no more than eight years in total
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Thailand
Formation	28 June 1932; 93 years ago (1932-06-28)
First holder	Manopakorn Nitithada
Deputy	Deputy Prime Minister
Salary	฿125,590 per month ($3,676 USD)

The prime minister of Thailand (Thai: นายกรัฐมนตรี, RTGS: Nayok Ratthamontri, literally 'chief minister of state') is the main leader of the government in Thailand. The prime minister also leads the group of top government officials called the cabinet of Thailand. This important job started after the Siamese Revolution of 1932, when Thailand changed from having an absolute king to a constitutional monarchy. This means the king is still the head of state, but the government is run by elected officials.

The prime minister is chosen by a vote in the House of Representatives and then officially appointed by the King of Thailand. Usually, the person chosen is the leader of the biggest political party or a group of parties working together. According to the 2017 Constitution, a prime minister can serve for a maximum of eight years in total.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra became Prime Minister on August 16, 2024. However, since July 1, 2025, she has been suspended from her duties by a court order. During this time, Phumtham Wechayachai has been serving as the acting Prime Minister since July 3, 2025.

History of the Prime Minister Role

The job of "President of the People's Committee" was first created in Thailand's temporary constitution in 1932. It was later renamed "Prime Minister of Siam." This role was inspired by the prime minister in the United Kingdom, as Thailand became a parliamentary democracy after a peaceful revolution in 1932.

Before 1932, Thailand was ruled by kings who had all the power. They were both the head of the country and the government. But even then, some people had very important roles, similar to a prime minister. For example, during the time of King Mongkut, Si Suriyawongse had a big influence. Later, during King Chulalongkorn's reign, Prince Damrong Rajanubhab took on a similar role. The oldest job that was like the prime minister was called Samuha Nayok, which was held by a "chief minister in charge of civilian affairs."

The first prime minister of Siam was Phraya Manopakorn Nititada, who was a judge. The title changed from "Prime Minister of Siam" to "Prime Minister of Thailand" in 1945. For much of its history, many prime ministers have been leaders from the Army. The longest-serving prime minister was Plaek Phibunsongkhram, who served for almost 15 years. The shortest-serving was Thawi Bunyaket, who served for only 18 days.

Some prime ministers have been removed from office by military takeovers (called coups d'état), others by court decisions, and some have resigned. Paetongtarn Shinawatra is the youngest person to become prime minister at 37 years old. Thailand's first female prime minister was Yingluck Shinawatra in 2011. All prime ministers since the first one have been Buddhist.

The current 2017 constitution says that a prime minister can serve for no more than eight years in total. This rule was discussed in 2022, and the Constitutional Court decided that the eight-year count would start from when the 2017 constitution was put into effect.

How the Prime Minister is Chosen

To become prime minister, a person must first be a member of the House of Representatives. This means they must meet the same requirements as other members of the House.

The person nominated to be prime minister needs the support of at least one-fifth of the members of the House of Representatives. After that, the House votes, and if the nominee gets more than half of the votes, their name is sent to the King. The King then officially appoints them. This process usually happens within 30 days after a new House of Representatives begins its first meeting after an election.

The person who becomes prime minister is almost always the leader of the political party that won the most seats, or the leader of the biggest group of parties that have joined together.

For a period between 2014 and 2019, after a military takeover, the prime minister was chosen differently. But now, the prime minister is once again chosen by the House of Representatives only.

What the Prime Minister Does

The prime minister is the actual leader of the Cabinet of Thailand. They are in charge of appointing and removing other government ministers. As the head of the government, the prime minister is responsible for how well their ministers and the entire government perform.

The prime minister cannot stay in office for more than eight years in a row. They represent Thailand to other countries and are the main spokesperson for the government at home. Within 15 days of being sworn in, the prime minister must present the government's plans to a meeting of the National Assembly.

The prime minister is also directly responsible for several important government offices. These include the National Intelligence Agency and the Office of the National Security Council. Any new laws about money that are introduced in the National Assembly must first be approved by the prime minister.

The prime minister can be removed from office through a "vote of no confidence." This happens if at least one-fifth of the members of the House of Representatives ask for a debate on the matter. After the debate, if more than half of the House members vote against the prime minister, they are removed. This process cannot happen again in the same parliamentary session.

Office and Home

The prime minister gets help from the Office of the Prime Minister, which is a government department. This office is usually led by two other ministers. These offices are located in the Government House of Thailand in Bangkok.

The official home for the prime minister is the Phitsanulok Mansion in the center of Bangkok. This mansion was built a long time ago during the reign of King Vajiravudh. It became an official residence in 1979. Some people say the mansion has ghosts, so most prime ministers choose to live in their own homes and only use the mansion for official work.

Deputy Prime Ministers

Several deputy prime ministers can be appointed in Thailand. These people help the prime minister and can also hold other important jobs in the government.

List of Prime Ministers

Images for kids

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  Flag of the prime minister of Thailand 1936–1939

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  Flag of the prime minister of Thailand 1939–1979

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  Flag of the prime minister of Thailand 1979–present

See also

• List of prime ministers of Thailand
• Constitution of Thailand
• Government of Thailand
• Office of the Prime Minister (Thailand)
• Cabinet of Thailand