Thailand is set to appoint former finance minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong as the new chairman of the Bank of Thailand (BoT), indicating the government's intent to exert more influence over the central bank. Kittiratt, known for criticising the BoT's conservative monetary policy, was reportedly chosen after a nearly five-hour selection panel meeting. While the BoT chairman does not directly set policy, the role includes influencing the composition of the Monetary Policy Committee and assessing the governor's performance. The government, led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has been pushing for lower interest rates to stimulate the economy, which has lagged behind regional peers over the past decade. The BoT has maintained a cautious stance, recently retaining its inflation target for next year at 1% to 3%.