Princess to run for PM in Thai election
Ubolratana to challenge incumbent prime minister in March 24 vote
BANGKOK — Thailand’s Princess Ubolratana Mahidol, in an unexpected move, accepted on Friday nomination as candidate for prime minister in the March 24 general election.
Thai Raksa Chart Party leader Preechaphol Pongpanit submitted to the Election Commission the name of the princess as the party’s only candidate for prime minister.
The polling agency is scheduled to officially announce the names of all electoral candidates, including those for the post-election prime minister, on Feb 15.
Ubolratana, 67, is the eldest child of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and sister of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. She will run on the ticket of the Thai Raksa Chart Party in competition with incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who also accepted the nomination as candidate for prime minister for the Palang Pracharath Party, as well as former prime minister and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, among others.
According to palace rules, Ubolratana became a commoner when she was divested of royal titles following her marriage to US citizen Peter Jensen in 1972. They had three children.
She returned to Thailand in 2001 from the United States after her divorce, and has since regularly taken part in charity, social welfare and health promotion events, as well as anti-drug campaigns for young people.
Her selection to lead the government after the general election also pits her against the preferred candidate of the military, which is considered one of Thailand’s most royalist institutions.
It was not immediately clear whether the nomination of Ubolratana, an avid social media user and former soap opera star who lived in California for years, had the approval of King Vajiralongkorn.
Thai Raksa Chart Party leader Preechaphol declined to comment whether Ubolratana will go on the campaign trail alongside Thai Raksa Chart electoral candidates nationwide.
The Thai Raksa Chart Party is largely viewed as an affiliate of the once-ruling Pheu Thai Party. Many Thai Raksa Chart Party members and electoral candidates had belonged to Pheu Thai Party in the past.
Both parties are known to remain loyal to former prime ministers Thaksin Shinawatra and Yingluck Shinawatra.