Veteran politician Anutin Charnvirakul elected Thai prime minister

Anutin Charnvirakul arrives in parliament in Bangkok on Friday (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Veteran Thai politician Anutin Charnvirakul was elected prime minister on Friday after winning a parliamentary vote, according to an official tally.

The leader of the Bhumjaithai party won a total of 311 votes, far exceeding the 247 required majority from the House of Representatives’ 492 active members.