Thai princess ‘can’t play politics’

– Thailand’s election commission said yesterday it is seeking the disqualification of a party that nominated a princess for prime minister, in what would be a setback for the opposition loyal to ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thailand will hold a general election on March 24 – its first since a military coup in 2014. The contest looks set to be a showdown between the military-backed, royalist Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and supporters of Thaksin.

Last week, a party allied with Thaksin said its candidate for prime minister, if it were it to win the election, would be Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, the king’s older sister.

The announcement caused a sensation in a country where the royal family has traditionally remained above the political fray.

Hours later, King Maha Vajiralongkorn made clear his opposition to his older sister’s political foray, calling it “inappropriate” and unconstitutional.

Thailand has been a constitutional monarchy since 1932, but the royal family wields great influence, with the king considered to be semidivine.

The election commission disqualified the princess on Monday and yesterday said it also aimed to dissolve the Thai Raksa Chart party, which nominated her.

The party was one of several set up by Thaksin’s loyalists as back-up parties in case his main Pheu Thai party is disqualified.

The election commission said the party had violated an electoral law with its nomination, which was “antagonistic toward the constitutional monarchy”.