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 Prime Minister Acting Prime Minister: Suriya Juangroongruangkit 1 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 is the main leader of the Thai government. Their title in Thai, Nayok Ratthamontri, means 'chief minister of state'. The Prime Minister also leads the group of top government officials called the Cabinet. This important job started in 1932, when Thailand changed from having an absolute king to a constitutional monarchy. This means the king still rules, but the government also has a constitution and elected leaders.

The Prime Minister is chosen by a vote from the House of Representatives, which is part of Thailand's parliament. After being chosen, the King officially appoints them. Usually, the person chosen is the leader of the biggest political party or a group of parties working together. A Prime Minister can serve for a maximum of eight years in total.

Currently, Paetongtarn Shinawatra became Prime Minister on August 16, 2024. As of July 1, 2025, Suriya Juangroongruangkit is serving as the acting Prime Minister.

A Look Back: How the Prime Minister's Role Began

The job of Prime Minister in Thailand started in 1932. Back then, it was called the "President of the People's Committee." This happened after a peaceful change in government, and Thailand became a constitutional monarchy. This new role was inspired by how the Prime Minister works in the United Kingdom.

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 before the Prime Minister's job was officially created, some important people helped the kings manage the country. For example, during the time of King Mongkut and King Chulalongkorn, certain officials played a big role in running the government. There was an old position called Samuha Nayok, which was like a chief minister for civilian matters.

The very first Prime Minister of Siam was Phraya Manopakorn Nititada, who was a judge. The country's name changed from Siam to Thailand, so the title also changed to "Prime Minister of Thailand" in 1949.

Over the years, many Prime Ministers have been leaders from the Army. The second Prime Minister, Phraya Phahon Phonphayuhasena, took over from the first one in 1933. The person who served the longest was Plaek Phibunsongkhram, for almost 15 years! The shortest time served was just 18 days by Thawi Bunyaket. Some prime ministers left office for different reasons, like changes in government or stepping down.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra is the youngest person to become Prime Minister, at 37 years old. In 2011, Thailand had its first female Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra. All Prime Ministers since the first one have been Buddhist.

Today, the constitution says that a Prime Minister can serve for a maximum of eight years in total. This rule helps ensure that leadership changes regularly.

How a Prime Minister is Chosen

To become Prime Minister, a person must first be a member of the House of Representatives. This means they need to meet the same requirements as any other member of parliament.

The process for choosing a Prime Minister works like this:

• First, a candidate needs the support of many members of the House of Representatives.
• Then, the House of Representatives votes. The candidate who gets more than half of the votes is chosen.
• After the vote, the decision is sent to the King. The King then officially appoints the new Prime Minister.
• This whole process usually happens within 30 days after a new election.

The person who becomes Prime Minister is usually the leader of the political party that won the most seats in the election. Or, they might be the leader of a group of parties that have joined together to form a majority. Currently, the Prime Minister is appointed only by the House of Representatives.

What the Prime Minister Does

The Prime Minister is the main leader of the Cabinet. The Cabinet is a team of ministers who help run the country. The Prime Minister helps choose and remove these ministers. They are responsible for how well the government works overall.

A Prime Minister can serve for a maximum of eight years. They are the most important public figure for Thailand. They represent the country to other nations and speak for the government at home. After being sworn in, the Prime Minister must tell the parliament their plans for the country.

The Prime Minister also oversees many important government offices. These include groups that handle national security, the country's budget, and public services. Any new laws about money that are suggested in parliament need the Prime Minister's approval.

If many members of the House of Representatives are unhappy with the Prime Minister's leadership, they can ask for a special vote. If more than half of the members vote against the Prime Minister, they can be asked to step down. This process cannot happen more than once in the same parliamentary session.

Where the Prime Minister Works and Lives

The Prime Minister gets help from the Office of the Prime Minister. This office is a big government department. It is usually led by two special ministers. These offices are located in the Government House in Bangkok.

The official home for the Prime Minister is the Phitsanulok Mansion. It is also in the center of Bangkok. This mansion was built a long time ago during the time of King Vajiravudh. It became the official residence in 1979. However, many Prime Ministers choose to live in their own homes. They often use the mansion only for official meetings and events.

Helping the Prime Minister: Deputy Prime Ministers

The Prime Minister has help from several Deputy Prime Ministers. Their Thai title is Rong Nayok Ratthamontri. These deputies can also hold other important jobs as ministers in the government.

Here are some of the current Deputy Prime Ministers:

Who Has Been Prime Minister?

You can find a full list of all the Prime Ministers of Thailand here: List of prime ministers of Thailand.

Here is a timeline showing when each Prime Minister served:

Flags of the Prime Minister

Here are some of the flags used by the Prime Minister of Thailand over the years:

• 

  Flag of the prime minister of Thailand 1936–1939

• 

  Flag of the prime minister of Thailand 1939–1979

• 

  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