Princess Ubolratana will run for the Prime Minister post in March 24 elections in an unprecedented entry by a royal into frontline politics. This will pit her against the chief of the ruling junta and redrawing the nation’s political landscape.
WEB DESK
King of Thailand’s Maha Vajiralongkorn has criticized his older sister for accepting a request to become a candidate for prime minister in the general election scheduled for March 24th.
The king released a statement on Friday night that called the political bid by Princess Ubolratana “highly inappropriate.” TV programs nationwide were suspended while the announcement was made.
66 old Princess Ubolratana, the older sister of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, was announced as a candidate for the Thai Raksa Chart party steered by the Shinawatra political clan.
The princess has been nominated as a prime ministerial candidate by a party allied to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The current military-led interim government took power following the 2014 coup. It decided to hold the general election in response to calls at home and abroad for a return to a civilian government.
It had been widely believed that interim Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who led the coup as army chief, would serve another term.
The interim government has revised the Constitution and changed the election system to give itself an advantage.
The princess’s nomination was seen to have completely changed the nation’s political landscape. But some observers say the king’s criticism has now made it difficult for the princess to continue with her bid for political office.
Thai Raksa Chart party leader Preechapol Pongpanich told reporters that the board agrees that the name of Princess Ubolratana, an educated and skilled person, is the most suitable choice.