BANGKOK – Thailand’s freshly installed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who secured parliamentary approval on September 5, unveiled his first Cabinet within days of taking power, signaling a focus on reviving a stalled economy and repairing strained ties with Cambodia.
Mr Anutin, a former interior minister and seasoned political dealmaker, has only four months in office before new elections must be called under a power-sharing agreement with the largest party in Parliament. On September 6 he appointed veteran economist Ekniti Nitithanprapas to lead the Finance Ministry and seasoned diplomat Sihasak Phuangketkeow as foreign minister, moves interpreted as pragmatic steps to stabilize Thailand’s economy and diplomacy.
Analysts say Anutin’s short tenure will likely emphasize quick wins to shore up support ahead of the looming election. “His role will likely be more geared towards setting the stage for the next election,” said Lavanya Venkateswaran, senior ASEAN economist at OCBC Bank. Short-term stimulus, including repackaged projects from the outgoing Pheu Thai administration, is expected, though Thailand’s growth prospects remain sluggish at between 1.8 and 2.3 percent in 2025 after just 2.5 percent last year.
The new government may also benefit from monetary easing, with economists forecasting a possible 50 basis point rate cut by the Bank of Thailand in October. Pressure remains high as tourism and automotive industries struggle, while earlier government handout schemes faltered in boosting momentum.
On the foreign policy front, Anutin steps in weeks after a ceasefire with Cambodia that ended five days of clashes, which killed 43 and displaced thousands. In a rare gesture, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet congratulated Anutin on his premiership, expressing hope to “restore relations and rebuild mutual trust.”
Positioning himself as both a pragmatic royalist and a peacemaker, Anutin pledged peaceful diplomacy on the border issue. “This government will take peaceful measures to resolve the ongoing Thai-Cambodian dispute with a firm commitment to mitigating any further Thai casualties,” he said on September 7.