Thai princess has eyes on PM post
bangkok — A Thai princess will run for prime minister in March elections in an unprecedented entry by a royal into frontline politics, pitting her against the chief of the ruling junta and redrawing the nation’s political landscape.
Princess Ubolratana, 67, the older sister of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, was announced as a candidate for the Thai Raksa Chart party steered by the divisive Shinawatra political clan.
The Thai monarchy, a revered institution shielded from criticism by a tough defamation law, has traditionally been seen as above the political fray, although royals have intervened in moments of political crisis. Ubolratana’s nomination has electrified the buildup to a March 24 election which had seemed poised to return the junta and its proxies to power in some form.
Her involvement gives a royal sheen to Thaksin Shinawatra’s political machine, which has won every election since 2001.
And it also potentially builds a bridge between Thaksin’s “Red” shirted supporters and the “Yellow” shirts who are arch royalists. Deadly violence and disruption linked to the two groups has defined Thailand’s turbulent last decade.
“Thank you for all the love and encouragement,” the princess, who gave up her royal titles to marry a foreigner, said in a typically colourful Instagram post on Friday afternoon. —
Princess Ubolratana, the King’s eldest sister will contest election against junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha March 24 polls could change traditional dynamic of Thai politics With this move, the princess broke the tradition of royals eschewing politics King Maha Vajiralongkorn has called the princess’ move inappropriate
Ubolratana, the eldest child of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was born in Lausanne in 1951.
She studied mathematics and bio-chemistry at MIT and earned a master’s degree in public health
from the University of California at Los Angeles.
She returned permanently to Thailand in 2001, performing royal duties but never regaining her full royal titles