Party caves in as Thai king halts princess’s bid to be PM

THAI Princess Ubolratana’s unprecedented attempt to become the country’s next prime minister was abruptly shut off yesterday after her party caved into a command from the king blocking her move into politics.

The monarchy was tipped into turmoil on Friday after the princess’s unexpected bid for power prompted a swift challenge from her younger brother, King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Her declaration to run for Thai Raksa Chart, a populist party, appeared to represent one of the biggest political shake-ups in Thailand’s history, threatening the ambitions of a military junta that has ruled the country since it toppled the previous administration in a 2014 coup.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy and no members of the royal family have run for front-line office. The country’s strict lèse-majesté laws, which make it a criminal offence to insult the monarchy, mean such political bids by the family are close to impossible.

But the Thai king stunned observers – who had assumed her candidacy had already received royal approval – when he torpedoed the bid in an extraordinary rebuke, saying it was “highly inappropriate” and against tradition to bring senior royal family members into politics.

Thai Raksa Chart responded swiftly, saying it “complies with the royal command”, and cancelling a campaign event for yesterday.

The party’s reversal effectively blocks Princess Ubolratana’s bid for the premiership. She has not commented on the row, only thanking supporters yesterday on her widely-followed Instagram account, saying she wanted Thailand to “move forward”.

While Thailand’s election commission, which is overseeing the first polls since the coup, has the final say on candidates, it seems unlikely its members would oppose the king’s powerful influence. The commission said it would issue a ruling tomorrow.

The palace intrigue could now help the junta consolidate its power before the March elections and tilt the odds in favour of coup leader Prayut Chan-OCha, 64.

Ms Ubolratana gave up her royal titles when she married an American decades ago, but they divorced and she moved back to Thailand.