BANGKOK -- Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has picked government adviser Somkid Jatusripitak, who was a close aide to deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as the new chief of economic policy in charge of re-energizing the country's feeble economy.
The appointment of Somkid as deputy prime minister responsible for guiding Thailand out of its doldrums is the most significant decision coming out of Prayuth's cabinet reshuffle on Sunday.