BANGKOK -- BANGKOK (AP) — Anutin Charnvirakul, a veteran politician best known for successfully lobbying to decriminalize cannabis in Thailand, became the country's prime minister after receiving a royal endorsement Sunday, two days after he was chosen by Parliament following a court order that removed his predecessor.

Anutin’s victory was a humiliation for the ruling Pheu Thai party, the once unstoppable populist juggernaut of influential billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thai lawmakers are meeting to select a new prime minister as major parties promise to dissolve Parliament and call an election to address a political crisis.