Sushil Pyakurel, the ambassador nominee to South Korea, has declined the position. Pyakurel has sent a letter to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, requesting the withdrawal of his nomination.

In a statement on Sunday, Pyakurel said he had submitted a letter to the Office of the Prime Minister requesting the government to withdraw his nomination.

Pyakurel said he rejected the post because he was not consulted before the nomination, and the government did not consider the criteria set by previous governments.

“I am surprised by the government’s practice of not having prior discussions on the background, efficiency, interests, and knowledge of the political, economic, and social status of the country concerned before assigning the responsibility of a post representing a country, such as an ambassador,” Pyakurel said in the statement. “In this context, I see the need for serious discussion on the criteria set by previous governments regarding the appointment of ambassadors, the rationale behind parliamentary hearings, and the tenure of ambassadors.”

The Cabinet meeting on Friday had recommended ambassadors for eight countries. Former member of the National Human Rights Commission, Pyakurel, was recommended for South Korea, according to the Cabinet decision. Pyakurel, who also served as an adviser to the second President of the country, Bidya Devi Bhandari, was supposed to replace Jyoti Pyakurel Bhandari.