Bovornsak defers to Anutin on deputy PM role; 7 ministers skip cabinet meeting.

Thairath•Politics•17h ago

Reader Briefing

Deputy Prime Minister Bovornsak Uwanno deflected questions about a potential return to the role, stating it depends on the Constitutional Court and deferring further comment to the Prime Minister, while seven ministers were absent from the day's cabinet meeting.

•Deputy Prime Minister Bovornsak Uwanno stated that concerns about the 2026 general election being void are a matter for the Constitutional Court.
•Bovornsak Uwanno deferred questions about his potential reappointment as Deputy Prime Minister to the Prime Minister.
•A total of seven ministers were absent from the cabinet meeting held on February 17, 2026.
•The cabinet meeting on February 17, 2026, was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sorn Sarum, as assigned by the Prime Minister.

Overview

•On February 17, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Bovornsak Uwanno gave an interview at Government House before the cabinet meeting.
•Deputy Prime Minister Bovornsak Uwanno stated that the concern about the 2026 general election becoming void "is up to the Constitutional Court."
•Deputy Prime Minister Bovornsak Uwanno indicated his potential return as Deputy Prime Minister would be decided elsewhere, stating, "Go ask the Prime Minister."
•A total of seven cabinet ministers were absent from the cabinet meeting on February 17, 2026.
•The reason for minister absences was not explicitly stated, only that they had submitted leave requests.
•The Prime Minister assigned Deputy Prime Minister Sorn Sarum to chair the cabinet meeting on February 17, 2026.
•The article lists the names of the seven ministers who were absent from the meeting.

Full article content is available on the original source.

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Source: Thairath (Original)

Key Quotes

Bovornsak Uwanno

"It is up to the Constitutional Court."

อยู่ที่ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ

Bovornsak Uwanno

"Go ask the Prime Minister."

ให้ไปถามท่านนายกฯ

Key Entities

Person

Bovornsak Uwanno(บวรศักดิ์)ℹ️

Deputy Prime Minister who deferred questions regarding his future role and the 2026 election.

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน)ℹ️

Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, to whom questions about Deputy Prime Minister Bovornsak's reappointment were deferred, and also listed as absent from the cabinet meeting.

Pipat Ratchakitprakarn(พิพัฒน์ รัชกิจประการ)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, listed as one of the seven ministers absent from the cabinet meeting.

Attakorn Sirilatthayakorn(อรรถกร ศิริลัทธยากร)

Minister of Tourism and Sports, listed as one of the seven ministers absent from the cabinet meeting.

Thanakon Wangboonkongchana(ธนกร วังบุญคงชนะ)

Minister of Industry, listed as one of the seven ministers absent from the cabinet meeting.

Sabida ThaiSert(ซาบีดา ไทยเศรษฐ์)

Minister of Culture, listed as one of the seven ministers absent from the cabinet meeting.

Thammanat Prompao(ธรรมนัส พรหมเผ่า)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, listed as one of the seven ministers absent from the cabinet meeting.

Suchat Chomklin(สุชาติ ชมกลิ่น)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, listed as one of the seven ministers absent from the cabinet meeting.

Sorn Sarum(โสภณ ซารัมย์)

Deputy Prime Minister assigned to preside over the cabinet meeting on February 17, 2026.

Organization

Cabinet(ครม.)

The executive body of the Thai government, which held a meeting on February 17, 2026, with several ministers absent.

Constitutional Court(ศาลรัฐธรรมนูญ)ℹ️

The judicial body responsible for ruling on constitutional matters, including the validity of elections, to which concerns about the 2026 election were referred.

Timeline

February 17, 2026(17 กุมภาพันธ์ 2026)

The date of the cabinet meeting where Deputy Prime Minister Bovornsak Uwanno was interviewed and seven ministers were absent.