Thai princess barred from race for leadership
Prime minister bid falls to pieces as the king, her brother, pulls the plug
Thai Princess Ubolratana was on Monday formally disqualified for running for prime minister, ending her brief and illfated political union with a party allied to the powerful Shinawatra clan, just days after a stern royal command rebuking her candidacy was issued by her brother, the king.
Uncertainty and conjecture have coursed through Thailand since Friday when the Thai Raksa Chart party made the explosive announcement of Princess Ubolratana, King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s elder sister, as their candidate for premier after the March 24 election.
Her tilt appeared to some to be a masterstroke of backroom dealings by Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire self-exiled expremier, just weeks before the poll.
But just hours later it fell apart. A royal command from the king put a pin in her unprecedented political aspirations, insisting the monarchy was above politics and describing his sister’s candidacy as “highly inappropriate”.
Thailand’s incredibly wealthy and powerful monarchy is revered by Thais and protected by a draconian law. The king’s word is seen as final. On Monday the Election Commission formally scratched her candidacy.
Chatter of an impending coup against the ruling junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha and a major change in army top brass has billowed out, with the hashtag #coup trending in the top 10 on Thai Twitter.
On Monday junta chief Prayut was forced to dismiss rumours of an impending coup as “fake news”.
The gruff former general masterminded a putsch against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s sister, in 2014.
Meanwhile, a chastened Thai Raksa Chart, a key pillar in Thaksin’s election strategy, agreed to comply with the royal command.
It may face censure by election authorities that could ultimately see it dissolved, although it was not clear if any ban could be in place before the election takes place.
Thailand’s generals have grabbed power 12 times since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, including against existing juntas seen to have overstepped their mark.
Prayut has agreed to stand for premier after the election and is aided by an army-scripted constitution. —