House to Vote on New PM on March 19 After Royal Command

The House of Representatives will vote to select the country’s next prime minister on March 19 after a royal command formally appointed the new House leadership, Speaker Sophon Saram confirmed on Monday, March 16.

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Sophon said the vote would be placed on the parliamentary agenda following the publication of the royal command in the Royal Gazette appointing him as Speaker of the House of Representatives. The command also confirmed Mallika Jirapunvanit as first deputy speaker and Lertsak Pattanachaikul as second deputy speaker.

The announcement clears the way for the lower house to proceed with selecting Thailand’s next prime minister. Sophon said he wanted the process to move quickly so the country could have a fully functioning government before the Songkran holiday, citing multiple national challenges that require an empowered administration.

The royal appointments followed a House vote held on March 15 to select the new parliamentary leadership. On Monday afternoon, a formal ceremony was held at Parliament where the royal command confirming the positions was officially received.

With the leadership now formally in place, the House is able to move forward with key parliamentary duties, including the vote to elect the next prime minister. March 19 has already been widely reported in Thai political coverage as the earliest possible date for such a vote.

Sophon indicated that forming a government quickly was a priority given the range of issues facing the country. A newly elected prime minister would then be able to begin forming a Cabinet and establish a government with full executive authority.

He was also asked about constitutional amendment efforts that remained unfinished during the previous parliamentary session. Sophon said the direction on those amendments would depend on the policies and decisions of the incoming government.

According to the House Speaker, the issue would need to wait until a new Cabinet has been formally established before further action could be taken. Any progress on constitutional reform will therefore depend on the priorities set by the new administration once it takes office.

The Nation reported that if the March 19 vote proceeds as planned, it will mark a key step toward restoring a fully operational government ahead of the Songkran festival period in April. The new prime minister would then move to form a Cabinet and begin governing under the current parliamentary term.

Picture courtesy of The Nation

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 17 Mar 2026

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