Thailand PM-elect Anutin appoints veterans to key cabinet posts

Thailand's Prime Minister-elect Anutin Charnvirakul has appointed seasoned professionals to key cabinet positions to restore confidence amid political and economic instability. He named diplomat Sihasak Phuangketkeow as Foreign Minister, economist and former finance official Ekniti Nitithanprapas as Finance Minister, and energy executive Auttapol Rerkpiboon, former head of state-owned PTT Group, as Energy Minister. These appointments come following Anutin's election as prime minister, where he outmaneuvered the ruling Pheu Thai party after the removal of former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra by the Constitutional Court. Anutin secured support from the progressive People’s Party and promised a referendum on constitutional amendments and a new election within four months. The cabinet selections arrive at a critical time for Thailand, Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, which has faced sluggish growth and regional tensions, including a recent deadly border clash with Cambodia. Anutin's rise marks a significant shift in Thai politics, challenging the influence of billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra and his party's dominance.