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Thailand election: Thai princess to stand as PM candidate
5 minutes ago
Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionThe princess, 67, is
breaking with decades of royal tradition
The eldest sister of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn
has joined the race to be the country's next prime minister.
Princess Ubolratana Mahidol, 67, will stand for a party
allied to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, according to registration
papers.
Traditionally the Thai royal family stays out of
politics, so this is an unprecedented move.
Thailand's election is scheduled to take place on 24
March.
The princess, who relinquished her royal title in the
1970s, has registered for the Thai Raksa Chart party.
"The party [board] agrees that the name of Princess
Ubolratana, an educated and skilled person, is the most suitable choice [for
premier]," said Preechapol Pongpanich, leader of the Thai Raksa Chart
party, according to an AFP report.
The development raises questions about the future of
other political candidates, amid speculation that no-one will run against a
member of the royal family.
Jonathan Head@pakhead
In an astonishing move
the elder sister of King Vajiralongkorn has submitted her name as the Prime
Ministerial candidate for a party allied to former PMs Thaksin & Yingluck
Shinawatra. As a royal, in reality, she cannot be opposed. This completely
upends Thai politics.
Who is Princess Ubolratana Mahidol?
Born in 1951, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana
Barnavadi is the oldest child of Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
After marrying an American in 1972, she gave up her royal
title and moved to the US. After her divorce she returned to Thailand and once
again started participating in royal life.
The princess engages actively in social media and has
also starred in several Thai movies.
She had three children, one of whom died in the 2004
tsunami while the other two still live in the US.
The country's current prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha,
also announced on Friday that he would be running for prime minister in the
current election.
The army chief, who seized power in a military coup in
2014, will be running as a candidate for the pro-military Palang Pracharat
party.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47167378
