Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul unveiled his Cabinet lineup yesterday, tapping technocrats to head key ministries to steer an economy grappling with the fallout of US tariffs and high household debt.
Seasoned bureaucrat Ekniti Nitithanprapas was appointed deputy Thai prime minister and minister of finance, a list published in the Royal Gazette showed.
Dusit Thani Group CEO Suphajee Suthumpun was named minister of commerce and former PTT Pcl CEO Auttapol Rerkpiboon was appointed as minister of energy.
Photo: AP
The Cabinet is set to be sworn-in by King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Wednesday, local news media said.
Anutin, the third Thai prime minister in two years, is expected to deliver his government’s policy statement within days. He has pledged to focus on tackling the high cost of living and elevated household debt levels, besides taking steps to address a currency rally that is threatening the nation’s exports and tourism.
The new government would also peacefully resolve the Thai-Cambodian border dispute without losing any more lives and protecting the country’s sovereignty, the prime minister said.
Anutin succeeded Paetongtarn Shinawatra after she was ousted by the Thai Constitutional Court for an ethical breach over the handling of a border dispute with Cambodia. That ruling led to the collapse of her coalition, eventually paving the way for Anutin’s elevation and sidelining of the influential Shinawatra clan.
Anutin, who heads a minority government, has promised to call a fresh election within four months under an agreement with the reformist People’s Party that offered to back his bid for prime minister without joining the coalition.
His move to name technocrats to handle key economic ministries within days of being elected by parliament helped boost investor confidence, after political instability cast uncertainty over policy direction.
However, his government’s short time in power might constrain his ability to make major policy initiatives, economists said.
Veteran diplomat Sihasak Phuangketkeow was appointed as minister of foreign affairs and retired military officer Nattaphon Narkphanit was named minister of defense.
Anutin is to also double as the minister of interior, the list showed.
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