New Delhi, Sept. 6 -- Anutin Charnvirakul, who was confirmed by parliament on Friday as Thailand's new prime minister, is a cautious and pragmatic politician adept at straddling the country's political divide.

He's best known for leading a successful campaign to decriminalize cannabis in Thailand. The 58-year-old's political ambitions have been supported by his family's wealth and a strong regional power base in Thailand's northeastern Isan region, where his Bhumjaithai party garners support from the large, rural population.

Anutin's key skill is his ability to navigate Thailand's polarized political landscape, which for two decades has been divided between supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the royalist-military...