Bhumjaithai Taps Anutin and Diplomat Sihasak for Dual PM Slate

A late-night message from Bhumjaithai headquarters has upended assumptions about the party’s path to Government House. After hinting all day that only one name would be put forward, the leadership has now confirmed a two-horse race for its nominee to be Thailand’s next prime minister.

Snapshot: What Voters Need to Know

• Two candidates, not one – party leader Anutin Charnvirakul remains the front-runner, but veteran diplomat Sihasak Phuangketkeow has suddenly been added.

• The turnaround came less than 12 hours after Anutin’s own policy speech suggested he would run unopposed.

• Strategists see the move as hedging bets: one candidate appeals to grassroots voters, the other reassures technocrats and coalition partners.

From Solo Bid to Dual Ticket

During a mid-morning policy presentation, Anutin projected confidence that his personal popularity—and the party’s extensive local network—made him the single logical pick. By dinner time that narrative had evaporated. At 22:30, senior officials used the party’s Line chat with reporters to announce a unanimous resolution inserting Sihasak as a second nominee. The whiplash reveals how fluid alliance-building remains in the final weeks before the general election expected early next year.

Who Exactly Is Sihasak Phuangketkeow?

Many urban voters recognise him from TV panels dissecting foreign affairs, but outside diplomatic circles his résumé is less familiar.

• Former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he negotiated ASEAN positions during the South China Sea disputes.

• Served as Thailand’s ambassador to France and later represented the kingdom at the United Nations in Geneva.

• Earned a reputation for quietly brokering compromises—skills that could prove invaluable in a fragmented parliament.

Those credentials differ sharply from Anutin’s image as a deal-making businessman who turned Bhumjaithai from regional actor into national powerbroker.

Why Add a Second Name Now?

Political analysts interviewed by The Standard and Thairath point to three tactical reasons:

Coalition arithmetic – Smaller parties uncomfortable with Anutin’s aggressive style may find Sihasak more palatable, smoothing post-election bargaining.

Technocratic signalling – Investors rattled by volatile baht swings might prefer a diplomat-economist at the helm. Listing Sihasak calms those nerves without sidelining Anutin.

Constitutional flexibility – Under the 2017 charter, Parliament can only vote on individuals formally submitted on the ballot. A second option keeps Bhumjaithai in play if Anutin fails to secure majority support in the first rounds.

Ripple Effects Across the Political Map

The opposition Pheu Thai, which has so far stuck to a single nominee strategy, issued a brief statement calling the late addition “proof that Bhumjaithai lacks internal confidence.” In contrast, Democrat Party strategists privately admit the dual ticket is “smart insurance” should coalition math get messy. Meanwhile, Move Forward’s youth wing mocks the maneuver as “two faces of the same patronage machine.”

Legal Fine Print: Multiple Nominees Allowed

Thai electoral law permits parties to list up to three names on the prime-minister slate. Each must be approved by the party’s executive committee and filed with the Election Commission before candidate registration closes. By adding Sihasak now, Bhumjaithai beats the paperwork deadline while keeping a third slot in reserve—a luxury that could become crucial if unexpected scandals or health issues arise.

The Road Ahead

Election day has yet to be formally declared, but insiders expect a royal decree within weeks. Bhumjaithai’s campaign buses are already rolling through Buriram, Chachoengsao and Nakhon Ratchasima, brandishing twin posters of Anutin in a polo shirt and Sihasak in a navy suit. Whether voters embrace the double act—or view it as indecision—will shape coalition talks and, ultimately, who presides over Ratchadamnoen Avenue come mid-2026.

For citizens weighing their ballot, the key takeaway is clear: Thailand’s electoral chessboard just gained another queen, and the endgame now looks far less predictable than it did yesterday afternoon.