Thai Princess Ubolratana (PHoto: AFP/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Thailand’sElection Commission on February 11 announced the list of candidates for thepremiership in the general election on March 24, and they do not includePrincess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi.
On February 8, the 67-year-old princess – theelder sister of King Maha Vajiralongkorn – accepted the Thai Raksa Chartparty’s nomination to run for the post. This was considered a shocking move asit broke a longstanding tradition of members of the royal family stayingoutside politics.
In response, King Maha Vajiralongkorn said thata political party nominating Princess Ubolratana for the premiership wasinappropriate and unconstitutional.
The Election Commission cited the king’sstatement that members of the royal family should stay out of politics.
Thailand’s election law forbids parties fromusing the monarchy in campaigns. Therefore, the Election Commission isconsidering a complaint seeking to ban the Thai Raksa Chart party, which ismade up of supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The list of candidates includes incumbent PMPrayut Chan-o-cha, who was nominated for the position by the Palang PracharatParty.
The commission said the general election onMarch 24 aims to restore civilian rule. It will be the first general electionin the country since a military coup in 2014.
The election also attracts the Pheu Thai Partyof former PM Thaksin Shinawatra and the Democrat Party of former PM AbhisitVejjajiva.-VNA
VNA
