Thai princess says #ILoveYou to fans after king opposes candidacy
BANGKOK (Reuters) — The Thai princess whose stunning announcement that she was running for prime minister was quickly opposed by her brother, the king, thanked her supporters yesterday, saying she wants Thailand to be “moving forward,” but she did not comment on her candidacy.
In an Instagram post, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, 67, did not directly mention her brother or her political hopes, but thanked supporters for their “love and kindness toward each other over the past day” and expressed gratitude for their support for her.
“I would like to say once again that I want to see Thailand moving forward, being admirable and acceptable by international countries, want to see all Thais have rights, a chance, good living, happiness to all,” she said, concluding with “#ILoveYou.”
Ubolratana shocked the country on Friday when she announced she would be the prime ministerial candidate for a populist party loyal to ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, in an election on March 24.
Her foray into politics — breaking with royal tradition — looked to be short-lived after her younger brother, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, quickly signaled he opposed it, which is likely to lead to her disqualification.
The Election Commission, which is overseeing the first polls since a 2014 military coup that overthrew a pro-Thaksin government, said it would issue a ruling on the issue tomorrow.
The nomination of a royal family member by pro-Thaksin forces was an audacious gambit, potentially undercutting Thaksin’s ardently royalist foes, and setting up an election showdown with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who led the 2014 coup and heads the military government.