Sudawan fails vetting, dropped from cabinet list: source

Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, the Pheu Thai Party nominee for minister of social development and human security, has failed a qualifications screening by the Office of the Secretary-General of the Cabinet, according to an informed government source.

The source said Sudawan will be dropped from the list of cabinet nominees. As the portfolio falls under her faction’s quota, she will be replaced by Nikorn Soemklang, an MP from Nakhon Ratchasima.

All ministerial candidates undergo routine qualifications screening.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is keen to avoid the same fate as former prime minister Srettha Thavisin, who was removed from office by the Constitutional Court for appointing a convicted individual, Phichit Chuenban, as PM’s Office minister.

After all candidates have been vetted, the list of those who pass will be submitted to the palace for royal assent.

Nikorn was first elected as an MP in Nakhon Ratchasima in 2023 and won re-election in the same province this year.