In March 1980, he was appointed minister to the Office of the Prime Minister in the cabinet of General Prem Tinsulanonda.
After Suchinda's resignation under public pressure in the course of the events of Black May on 24 May 1992, Meechai acted as caretaker prime minister until a new head of government (Anand Panyarachun for a second term) was appointed on 10 June.