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 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	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 (called Nayok Ratthamontri in Thai) is the main leader of the government in Thailand. Think of them as the head of the team that runs the country. This important job started in 1932 when Thailand changed from being ruled by a king alone to a system where the king shares power with a government chosen by the people. This is called a constitutional monarchy. The Prime Minister also leads the group of top government officials, known as the Cabinet.

The Prime Minister is chosen by the House of Representatives, which is like a parliament. After they are chosen, the King officially appoints them. A Prime Minister can serve for a maximum of eight years in total.

Currently, Phumtham Wechayachai is the acting Prime Minister of Thailand. He took on this role on July 3, 2025. Before him, Paetongtarn Shinawatra was the Prime Minister, appointed on August 16, 2024. However, on July 1, 2025, a court asked her to temporarily stop her duties while they reviewed a matter. During this time, Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai stepped in to lead the government.

The History of Thailand's Prime Ministers

The idea of a Prime Minister in Thailand began with the "President of the People's Committee" in 1932. This was after a peaceful change in government, known as the Siamese Revolution. Before 1932, Thailand was ruled by kings who had all the power. But after the revolution, Thailand became a parliamentary democracy, similar to how the United Kingdom is governed.

The first person to hold this new leadership role was Phraya Manopakorn Nitithada, who was a judge. The title of the job changed over time, from "Prime Minister of Siam" to "Prime Minister of Thailand" when the country's name officially became Thailand in 1949.

Many of Thailand's Prime Ministers have been leaders from the Army. In fact, sixteen out of thirty Prime Ministers have come from a military background. The longest-serving Prime Minister was Plaek Phibunsongkhram, who led the country for almost 15 years. The shortest-serving was Thawi Bunyaket, who was in office for only 18 days!

Over the years, some Prime Ministers left office due to various reasons. Nine were removed because of changes in government leadership, three were asked to leave by court decisions, and eleven chose to resign. Thailand also had its first female Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, in 2011. The youngest person to become Prime Minister was Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was 37 years old. All Prime Ministers since the first one have been Buddhist.

The current rules, set in the 2017 Constitution, say that a Prime Minister cannot serve for more than eight years in total. This rule helps ensure that leadership changes regularly.

How a Prime Minister is Chosen

To become the Prime Minister of Thailand, 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.

In the past, before 2014, a candidate for Prime Minister needed support from at least one-fifth of the members of the House of Representatives. Then, the House would vote, and if the candidate received a simple majority, their name would be sent to the King. The King would then officially appoint them. This process usually happened within 30 days after a new election.

The person chosen as Prime Minister is usually the leader of the largest political party or the leader of a group of parties that have joined together to form a majority after an election.

After a period of temporary government changes between 2014 and 2019, the current system for choosing the Prime Minister involves only the House of Representatives voting for the nominee. Once chosen by the House, the King formally appoints them.

What the Prime Minister Does

The Prime Minister is like the captain of the government team, known as the Cabinet. They lead all the government ministers. The Prime Minister helps decide who becomes a minister and can also advise on removing them. Because they lead the government, the Prime Minister is responsible for how well the ministers and the entire government perform.

A Prime Minister can serve for a maximum of eight years. They are also the main person who speaks for Thailand to other countries and explains the government's plans to the people at home. After being appointed, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet must present their plans to the National Assembly within fifteen days.

The Prime Minister also oversees several important government offices. These include groups that handle national intelligence, the country's budget, national security, and public service. Any new laws about money that are introduced in the National Assembly need the Prime Minister's approval.

If the House of Representatives believes the Prime Minister is not doing a good job, they can hold a "vote of no confidence." If enough members vote against the Prime Minister, they can be removed from office. This process ensures that the Prime Minister remains accountable to the elected representatives.

The Prime Minister's Office and Home

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

The official home for the Prime Minister is the Phitsanulok Mansion, also in the center of Bangkok. This grand house was built a long time ago during the reign of King Vajiravudh. It became the official residence in 1979. Interestingly, there are stories that the mansion has many ghosts! Because of these rumors, most Prime Ministers choose to live in their own private homes and only use the mansion for official meetings and events.

Deputy Prime Ministers

Thailand can have several Deputy Prime Ministers. These individuals help the Prime Minister and can also hold other important jobs in the government, like being a minister for a specific department.

Timeline of Thailand's Prime Ministers

Flags of the Prime Minister

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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

In Spanish: Primer ministro de Tailandia para niños

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